Sample analyzer

ABSTRACT

The sample analyzer includes: a reagent arranging section for arranging a plurality of reagents; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display device; an input device; and a display control section for displaying a reagent arrangement displaying region for displaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed with a reagent name respectively on the display device, wherein the each reagent mark is displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, wherein arrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangement displaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on the reagent arranging section, wherein the display control section displays detailed information related to the reagent corresponding to the reagent mark selected by the input device on the display device.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority as a Continuation to U.S. applicationSer. No. 11/893,926, entitled “Sample Analyzer,” filed on Aug. 17, 2007,now U.S. Pat. No. 9,372,199, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119to Japanese Patent Application No. 2006-222850 filed Aug. 18, 2006 andJapanese Patent Application No. 2006-231591 filed Aug. 29, 2006, theentire disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sample analyzer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A sample analyzer equipped with a display screen for displaying detailedinformation of the arranged reagent is conventionally known (see e.g.,Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2001-133462). In such sampleanalyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No.2001-133462, when the reagent is specified on the display screen, thestate of the specified reagent is confirmed, and the confirmation result(detailed information) is displayed on the display screen. Furthermore,in the sample analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2001-133462, a reagent stocker is displayed on thedisplay screen on a frame format view, and the detailed information ofeach reagent bottle installed in the reagent stocker such as item name,remaining amount (number of times), lot number or serial number, and thelike can be confirmed on the display screen.

Recently, the number of reagents to be arranged in the sample analyzeris increasing to a few dozens to about a hundred due to increase in thenumber of measurement items and improvement on the processing speed ofthe sample analyzer described above. It is thus desired to be able toeasily confirm the detailed information such as arrangement, item name,lot number, or the like of the reagent on the display screen.

Although the sample analyzer disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open PatentPublication No. 2001-133462 is configured to display the detailedinformation of all the arranged reagents, the detailed information ofall the arranged reagents are difficult to display when a great numberof reagents are arranged since the space of the displaying region of thedisplay screen is limited.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appendedclaims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within thissummary.

The first aspect of the present invention relates to a sample analyzercomprising: a reagent arranging section for arranging a plurality ofreagents; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the reagentarranging section; a display device; an input device; and a displaycontrol section for displaying a reagent arrangement displaying regionfor displaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed with a reagentname respectively on the display device, wherein the each reagent markis displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, whereinarrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangementdisplaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on thereagent arranging section, wherein the display control section displaysdetailed information related to the reagent corresponding to the reagentmark selected by the input device on the display device.

The second aspect of the present invention relates to a sample analyzercomprising: a reagent arranging section for arranging a plurality ofreagents; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the reagentarranging section; a display device; an input device; and a displaycontrol section for displaying reagent managing screen including a firstregion for displaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed withreagent names respectively and a second region for displaying areplacement mark for replacing the reagent arranged on the reagentarranging section, wherein the each reagent mark and the replacementmark are displayed in a manner selectable by the input device, whereinarrangement of the each reagent mark on the first region corresponds toarrangement of the each reagent on the reagent arranging section,wherein when one of the reagent marks is selected by the input deviceand the replacement mark is selected by the input device, the reagentarranging section performs a reagent replacement operation for replacethe reagent corresponding to the selected regent mark.

The third aspect of the present invention relates to a sample analyzercomprising: a reagent arranging section in which a plurality of reagentsare capable of being arranged in a movable manner; an analyzing sectionfor analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and thereagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a display device; aninput device; and a display control section for displaying reagentmanaging screen including a reagent arrangement displaying region fordisplaying a plurality of reagent marks inscribed with reagent namesrespectively, wherein the each reagent mark and the replacement mark aredisplayed in a manner selectable by the input device, whereinarrangement of the each reagent mark on the reagent arrangementdisplaying region corresponds to arrangement of the each reagent on thereagent arranging section, wherein the display control section controlsthe display device to display the reagent mark corresponding to thereagent which has a problem to be used for analysis in a mannerdistinguishable from the reagent mark corresponding to the reagent whichdoes not have a problem to be used for analysis.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of asample analyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the sample analyzer shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing a measurement mechanism unit of the sampleanalyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the interior of the measurementmechanism unit and a reagent storing section of the sample analyzeraccording to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing the interior of the measurement mechanismunit and the reagent storing section shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a control device of the sampleanalyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed on adisplay device of a control device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed on adisplay device of a control device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 9 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed on adisplay device of a control device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 10 is a view showing a reagent managing screen displayed on adisplay device of a control device according to one embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 11 is a view showing a reagent information edit dialogue displayedon the display device of the control device according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a view showing a reagent lot usage setting dialogue displayedon the display device of the control device according to one embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a first reagent container rackaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a second reagent container rackaccording to one embodiment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a state in which a reagentcontainer is held in the first reagent container rack shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view showing a state in which the reagentcontainer is held in the second reagent container rack shown in FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the sample analyzer according to oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a block diagram of a control section of the measurementmechanism unit of the sample analyzer according to the one embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for explaining a reagent replacing process by thecontrol section of the control device of the sample analyzer accordingto the one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 20 is a flowchart for explaining a reagent replacing process by thecontrol section of the measurement mechanism unit of the sample analyzeraccording to the one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for describing the dispensing process by thecontrol section of the measurement mechanism unit of the sample analyzeraccording to the one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for describing the process of displaying theremaining amount of the reagent in the reagent managing screen of thesample analyzer according to the one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 23 is a conceptual view for describing a method of calculating theremaining amount of the reagent;

FIG. 24 is a conceptual view for describing the correspondencerelationship between the remaining amount of the reagent and the colorof the remaining amount indicator;

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for describing the process of displaying thedetailed information of the reagent on the reagent detailed informationdisplaying region;

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for describing the process of editing thedetailed information of the reagent displayed on the reagent detailedinformation displaying region; and

FIG. 27 is a flowchart describing the measurement process by the controlsection of the control device and the control section of the measurementmechanism unit of the sample analyzer according to one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments embodying the present invention will now be described basedon the drawings.

FIGS. 1 to 5 are views showing an overall configuration of a sampleanalyzer according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 isa view describing a control device of a sample analyzer according to theone embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 7 to 12 are viewsdescribing a screen displayed on a display device of the sample analyzeraccording to the one embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 13 to 16are perspective views showing a reagent container rack and a reagentcontainer of the sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of thepresent invention. FIGS. 17 and 18 are block diagrams describing thedetails of the sample analyzer according to the one embodiment of thepresent invention. First, the structure of the sample analyzer 1according to the one embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 1 to 18.

The sample analyzer 1 according to the one embodiment of the presentinvention is a device for analyzing the amount or degree of activity ofa specific substance related to coagulation and fibrolytic function ofthe blood by optically measuring the same, and uses blood plasma for thespecimen. The optical measurement (main measurement) of the specimen isperformed in the sample analyzer 1 according to the one embodiment usingcoagulation time method, synthetic substrate method, andimmunoturbidimetric method. The coagulation time method used in thepresent embodiment is a measuring method of detecting the coagulatingprocess of the specimen as change in transmitted light. The measurementitems include PT (prothrombin time), APTT (activated partialthromboplastin time), Fbg (Fibrinogen content) or the like. Themeasurement item of the synthetic substrate method includes ATIII, andthe measurement item of the immunoturbidimetric method includes D dimer,FDP or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the sample analyzer 1 is configured by ameasurement mechanism unit 2, a specimen conveyance mechanism unit 3arranged on the front face side of the measurement mechanism unit 2, anda control device 4 electrically connected to the measurement mechanismunit 2. A cuvette placing section 5 for placing the cuvette 200 (seeFIG. 4), which is the container of the specimen when performing themeasurement, is arranged in the measurement mechanism unit 2. Anopenable/closable lid 5 a and a window 5 b through which the interior ofthe cuvette placing section 5 can be seen are formed in the cuvetteplacing section 5. An urgent stop button 1 a and a measurement startbutton 1 b are arranged on the front face side of the cuvette placingsection 5. The lid 5 a (see FIG. 1) is provided to place the cuvette 200into a first hopper 161 a (see FIG. 4) of a cuvette supply mechanismsection 160, to be hereinafter described. The user is able to see theremaining amount of the cuvette 200 stored in the first hopper 161 a(see FIG. 4) through the window 5 b. The urgent stop button 1 a (seeFIG. 1) has a function of stopping the measurement in time of urgency.The measurement start button 1 b (see FIG. 1b ) has a function ofstarting the measurement when pushed. The user thus can immediatelystart the measurement after placing the cuvette 200. The measurement canalso be started or stopped through operation of the control device 4.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the control device 4 consists of a personalcomputer 401 (PC), and includes a control section 4 a, a display device4 b and a keyboard 4 c. The control section 4 a is adapted to transmitan operation start signal of the measurement mechanism unit 2 to acontrol section 501 of the measurement mechanism unit 2, to behereinafter described, and analyze optical information of the specimenobtained by the measurement mechanism unit 2. The control section 4 a ismade up of CPU, ROM, RAM, or the like. The display device 4 b isprovided to display information associated with interference substance(hemoglobin, milky fluid (fat), and bilirubin) present in the specimen,as well as the result of analysis obtained by the control section 4 a.

The configuration of the control device 4 will now be described indetail. As shown in FIG. 6, the control section 4 a is mainly configuredby a CPU 401 a, a ROM 401 b, a RAM 401 c, a hard disc 401 d, a read-outdevice 401 e, an input/output interface 401 f, a communication interface401 g, and an image output interface 401 h. The CPU 401 a, the ROM 401b, the RAM 401 c, the hard disc 401 d, the read-out device 401 e, theinput/output interface 401 f, the communication interface 401 g, and theimage output interface 401 h are connected by a bus 401 i.

The CPU 401 a executes computer programs stored in the ROM 401 b and thecomputer programs loaded in the RAM 401 c. The computer 401 serves asthe control device 4 when the CPU 401 a executes the application program404 a, as hereinafter described.

The ROM 401 b is configured by mask ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, and thelike, and is recorded with computer programs to be executed by the CPU401 a, data used for the same, and the like.

The RAM 401 c is configured by SRAM, DRAM, and the like. The RAM 401 cis used to read out the computer programs recorded on the ROM 401 b andthe hard disc 401 d. The RAM 401 c is used as a work region of the CPU401 a when executing the computer programs.

The hard disc 401 d is installed with various computer programs to beexecuted by the CPU 401 a such as operating system and applicationprogram, as well as data used in executing the computer program. Theapplication program 404 a for calculating the presence and concentrationof the interference substance according to the present invention is alsoinstalled in the hard disc 401 d. In the present embodiment, a table ofa reagent master, a reagent lot master, and a container master to behereinafter described is stored in the hard disc 401 d.

The read-out device 401 e is configured by flexible disc drive, CD-ROMdrive, DVD-ROM drive, and the like, and is able to read out computerprograms and data recorded on a portable recording medium 404. Theapplication program 404 a according to the present embodiment is storedin the portable recording medium 404, where the computer 401 reads outthe application program 404 a from the portable recording medium 404,and installs the application program 404 a to the hard disc 401 d.

The application program 404 a is not only provided by the portablerecording medium 404, but also provided through communication line(wired or wireless) from external devices communicatably connected withthe computer 401 through the communication line. For instance, theapplication program 404 a may be stored in the hard disc of the servercomputer on the internet, so that the computer 401 can access the servercomputer to download the application program 404 a and install theapplication program 404 a to the hard disc 401 d.

Operating system providing graphical user interface environment such asWindows (registered trademark) manufactured and sold by U.S. MicrosoftCorporation is installed in the hard disc 401 d. In the followingdescription, the application program 404 a according to the presentembodiment is assumed to be operating on the operating system.

The input/output interface 401 f is configured by serial interface suchas USB, IEEE1394, RS-232C; parallel interface such as SCSI, IDE,IEEE1284; analog interface such as D/A converter, A/D converter, and thelike. The keyboard 4 c is connected to the input/output interface 401 f,so that the user can input data to the computer 401 using the keyboard 4c.

The communication interface 401 g is, for example, Ethernet (registeredtrademark) interface. The computer 401 transmits and receives data withthe measurement mechanism unit 2 using a predetermined communicationprotocol by means of the communication interface 401 g.

The image output interface 401 h is connected to the display device 4 bconfigured by LCD, CRT, or the like, and is configured to output animage signal corresponding to the image data provided from the CPU 401 ato the display device 4 b. The display device 4 b displays the image(screen) according to the input image signal.

As shown in FIG. 7, in the present embodiment, the display device 4 bdisplays a reagent managing screen 410 that displays the arrangement ofthe reagents of a reagent storing section 6 to be hereinafter described.The reagent managing screen 410 includes a reagent arrangementdisplaying region 420, a reagent detailed information displaying region430, and an operation means displaying region 440. A measurement startbutton 411 for starting the measurement of the sample analyzer 1 and ameasurement stop button 412 for stopping the measurement are arranged onthe reagent managing screen 410. The display device 4 b has a touchpanel function, so that the user can select or operate by directlytouching the button etc. displayed on the reagent managing screen 410.

On the reagent arrangement displaying region 420, a maximum of ten firstreagent marks 421 displayed in correspondence to the arrangement stateof the reagent in a first reagent table 11 on the inner side, to behereinafter described, a maximum of thirty second reagent marks 422displayed in correspondence to the arrangement state of the reagent in asecond reagent table 12 on the outer side, to be hereinafter described,and a maximum of five diluting/cleaning fluid marks 423 displayed incorrespondence to the arranging state of the diluting fluid or thecleaning fluid are displayed in a specifiable manner. The first reagentmark 421 includes a position displaying part 421 a for displaying theposition of the reagent, a reagent name displaying part 421 b fordisplaying the reagent name, and a remaining amount indicator 421 c fordisplaying the remaining amount of the reagent. Furthermore, the secondreagent mark 422 includes a position displaying part 422 a fordisplaying the position of the reagent, a reagent name displaying part422 b for displaying the reagent name, and a remaining amount indicator422 c for displaying the remaining amount of the reagent. The remainingamount indicators 421 c and 422 c are displayed only when the remainingamount of the reagent becomes less than or equal to a predeterminedamount. The diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 includes a positiondisplaying part 423 a for displaying the position of the dilutingfluid/cleaning fluid, a fluid name displaying part 423 b for displayinga fluid name of the diluting fluid/cleaning fluid, and a remainingamount indicator (not shown) for displaying the remaining amount of thediluting fluid/cleaning fluid.

In the present embodiment, the specified first reagent mark 421, thesecond reagent mark 422, or the diluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 isdisplayed so as to be distinguishable from the reagent marks or thediluting/cleaning fluid marks other than the specified reagent marks(first reagent mark 421, second reagent mark 422, or diluting/cleaningfluid mark 423). As shown in FIG. 7, for example, the background withrespect to the reagent name of the reagent name displaying part of thenon-specified reagent mark is displayed in white (illustrated withouthatching (diagonal lines)), whereas the background with respect to thereagent name (e.g., SHP of second reagent mark 422) of the reagent namedisplaying part of the specified reagent mark is displayed in blue(illustrated with hatching (diagonal lines)).

The positional information (holder number) of the reagent displayed onthe position displaying parts 421 a and 422 a of the first reagent mark421 and the second reagent mark 422 is displayed by reading barcodes 311b, 312 b (see FIG. 15) of a first reagent container rack 310 andbarcodes 321 b to 326 b (see FIG. 16) of a second reagent container rack320, to be hereinafter described, with a barcode reader 350. The reagentname displayed on the reagent name displaying parts 421 b and 422 b isdisplayed with reference to a reagent master (table), to be hereinafterdescribed, based on the values obtained by reading a barcode 300 a of areagent container 300 accommodating the reagent with the barcode reader350 (see FIG. 5). The position displaying part 423 a of thediluting/cleaning fluid mark is always displayed since a holding part141 (see FIG. 5) of an urgent specimen setting section 140 for holding adiluting/cleaning fluid container (not shown) accommodating the dilutingfluid or the cleaning fluid is fixed to the sample analyzer 1. The fluidname displaying part 423 b is displayed with reference to the reagentmaster (table), to be hereinafter described, based on the value obtainedby reading a barcode (not shown) of the diluting/cleaning fluidcontainer (not shown) accommodating the diluting fluid or the cleaningfluid with a barcode reader 351.

In the present embodiment, the remaining amount of the reagent displayedon the remaining amount indicators 421 c and 422 c is calculated by theshape of the reagent container 300 specified with reference to acontainer master (table) based on the value obtained by reading thebarcode 300 a of the reagent container 300 with the barcode reader 350,and the height of the fluid level of the reagent accommodated in thereagent container 300. If the calculated remaining amount of the reagentis less than or equal to the predetermined amount, the remaining amountof the reagent is color-coded in correspondence to the remaining amounton the remaining amount indicators 421 c and 422 c, and a warning isdisplayed. For instance, if the remaining amount of the reagent is lessthan or equal to the warning remaining amount, a predetermined color(e.g., yellow (illustrated with left diagonal hatching in “A13-4” ofFIG. 7) is displayed on the remaining amount indicators 421 c and 422 c.If the remaining amount of the reagent is less than or equal to ameasurement canceling remaining amount that is less than the warningremaining amount, a predetermined color (e.g., red (illustrated withright diagonal hatching in “A13-3”) is displayed on the remaining amountindicators 421 c and 422 c. If the remaining amount of the reagent isgreater than the warning remaining amount, the remaining amountindicators 421 c and 422 c are not displayed. Since the remaining amountof the reagent is not known for the reagents that have not been usedeven once since arranged in the reagent table, a predetermined color(e.g., gray (illustrated as region without hatching in “B11-2” of FIG.19) is displayed on the remaining amount indicator of the reagent markcorresponding to the relevant reagent. The display of remaining amountin such remaining amount indicators 421 c and 422 c will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

The remaining amount of the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluiddisplayed in the remaining amount indicator (not shown) of thediluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 is calculated by the shape of thediluting/cleaning fluid container (not shown) specified with referenceto the container master (table) based on the value obtained by reading abarcode (not shown) of the diluting/cleaning container accommodating thediluting fluid or the cleaning fluid with the barcode reader 351 and theheight of the fluid level of the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluidaccommodated in the diluting/cleaning fluid container.

The first reagent mark 421 is divided into by twos for every first rackmark 424 corresponding to five first reagent container racks 310 (seeFIG. 5) capable of holding two reagent containers 300 arranged in thefirst reagent table 11 (see FIG. 5) and displayed. The second reagentmark 422 is divided into by sixes for every second rack mark 425corresponding to five second reagent container racks 320 (see FIG. 5)capable of holding six reagent containers 300 arranged in the secondreagent table 12 (see FIG. 5) and displayed. That is, the reagentmanaging screen 410 allows checking of at which position of whichreagent container rack (first reagent container rack 310 or secondreagent container rack 320) of which reagent table (first reagent table11 or second reagent table 12) the reagent is arranged.

If the reagent container rack is not arranged on the reagent table, acircular rack non-arranged mark 426 with nothing shown on the inside isdisplayed at a region corresponding to the portion the reagent containerrack is not arranged. If the first reagent container rack 310 or thesecond reagent container rack 320 is arranged on the first reagent table11 or the second reagent table 12, and the reagent container 300 to beheld by the reagent container rack is not present, a reagentnon-arranged mark 427 is displayed at a region corresponding to theportion the reagent is not arranged. The reagent non-arranged mark 427has a position displaying part 427 a for displaying positionalinformation (holder number) of the portion the reagent is not arranged.This aspect will be hereinafter described in detail.

Among the first reagent mark 421, the second reagent mark 422, the racknon-arranged mark 426, and the reagent non-arranged mark 427, the markpositioned at a predetermined position has the outer periphery of themark shown in a predetermined color (e.g., brown (illustrated with heavyline). The mark A which outer periphery is shown in brown indicates thatthe reagent arranged at the relevant position is to be stirred. Thereagent that needs stirring is arranged at the position of the mark Awhich outer periphery is shown in brown.

In the present embodiment, if the reagent that needs to be stirred isnot arranged at the position of the mark A which outer periphery isshown in brown, a mistaken arrangement mark B (e.g., red x mark) isdisplayed on the reagent mark of the reagent that needs stirring. Anexpired mark C (e.g., one red diagonal line (illustrated with heavy linein the figure)) is displayed for the reagent mark of the reagent whichhas expired, as hereinafter described. The sample analyzer 1 isconfigured so as not to use the reagent corresponding to the reagentmark shown with the reagent mistaken arrangement mark or expired markfor measurement. A stable time-out mark D (e.g. one yellow diagonal line(illustrated with outlined line in the figure) is displayed for thereagent mark of the reagent that has elapsed a predetermined time (e.g.,eight hours) from a set date or set time of the reagent, as hereinafterdescribed. When reading of the barcode 300 a of the reagent container300 by the barcode reader 350 fails, a barcode reading error mark E(e.g., “?” mark) is displayed on the reagent mark of the reagentaccommodated in the reagent container which reading has failed.

On the reagent detailed information displaying region 430, detailedinformation (holder number, reagent name, usage order, usable remainingamount (usable amount), remaining number of tests, necessity ofstirring, lot number, type of reagent container, expiration date ofreagent, set date, set time etc.) of the reagent corresponding to thespecified first reagent mark 421 or the second reagent mark 422 aredisplayed. More specifically, positional information of the reagentdisplayed at a position displaying part of the specified reagent mark isdisplayed on the “holder number” column. Similar to the reagent namedisplaying part of the specified reagent mark, the reagent namespecified with reference to the reagent master based on the valueobtained by reading the barcode 300 a of the reagent container 300 withthe barcode reader 350 is displayed on the “reagent name” column. Theorder of use in the measurement when a plurality of the same reagents isarranged on the reagent table is displayed on the “usage order” column.The remaining amount of the reagent corresponding to the specifiedreagent mark is displayed on the “usable amount” column. The valueobtained by dividing the “usable amount” by the reagent amount to beused in one measurement is displayed on the “remaining number of tests”.Whether or not the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent markneeds to be stirred is displayed on the “stirring” column. The lotnumber specified with reference to the reagent lot master based on thevalue obtained by reading the barcode 300 a of the reagent container 300with the barcode reader 350 is displayed on the “lot number” column. Thetype of container specified with reference to the container master basedon the value obtained by reading the barcode 300 a of the reagentcontainer 300 with the barcode reader 350 is displayed on the “type ofcontainer” column. The expiration date corresponding to the lot numberspecified with reference to the reagent lot master based on the valueobtained by reading the barcode 300 a of the reagent container 300 withthe barcode reader 350 is displayed on the “expiration date” column. Thedate and time the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent markwas set in the sample analyzer 1 are displayed on the “set date” columnand the “set time” column. The user is able to manage the reagents, e.g.to determine the changing timing of the reagent with the detailedinformation of the reagent. If the reading of the barcode failed and thedetailed information of the reagent are not displayed, the detailedinformation of the reagent can be edited with a reagent information editbutton 440 b and a reagent information edit dialogue 450, as hereinafterdescribed. The display of the detailed information of the reagent in thereagent detailed information displaying region 430 will be hereinafterdescribed in detail.

A “replaced” button 431 is arranged on the reagent detailed informationdisplaying region 430. The “replaced” button 431 has a function ofhaving the sample analyzer 1 recognize that replacement of the reagenthas been performed by hand when the replaced reagent is not recognizedby the sample analyzer 1 when the reagent is replaced. The “set date”and the “set time” of the reagent displayed information displayingregion 430 are updated to the time the “replaced” button 431 was pushedby pushing the “replaced” button 431.

The operation means displaying region 440 includes areplacement/addition instructing button 440 a for instructingreplacement and addition of the reagent, the edit button 440 b forediting the reagent information, a reagent lot setting button 440 c forassigning the reagent lot to the measurement item, a reagent mastersetting button 440 d, a reagent lot master setting button 440 e, and acontainer master setting button 440 f.

In the present embodiment, when the replacement/addition instructingbutton 440 a is selected with the first reagent mark 421 or the secondreagent mark 422 specified, the first reagent container rack 310 or thesecond reagent container rack 320 holding the reagent container 300 thataccommodates the reagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark ismoved to a retrieving position enabling retrieval from the sampleanalyzer 1. When addition of the reagent is performed, thereplacement/addition instructing button 440 a is selected with thereagent non-arranged mark 427 specified. The first reagent containerrack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 corresponding to therack mark including the specified reagent non-arranged mark is thusmoved to the retrieving position. Similarly, when thereplacement/addition button 440 a is selected with the diluting/cleaningfluid mark 423 specified, the diluting fluid or the cleaning fluid canbe replaced or added.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, a function of color-coding anddisplaying so as to be identifiable by the user a waiting position fromwhen the replacement/addition button 440 a is pushed until the reagentcontainer rack corresponding to the rack mark including specified firstreagent mark 421, the second reagent mark 422, or the reagentnon-arranged mark 427 is moved to the retrieving position and aretrievable state in which the reagent container rack can be retrievedto the outside from the retrieving position is provided. That is, asshown in FIG. 8, the first rack mark 424 or the second rack mark 425including the specified first reagent mark 421, the second reagent mark422, or the reagent non-arranged mark 427 is displayed in apredetermined color (e.g., yellow) in the waiting state. In FIG. 8, thereagent of “B11-2” is the target of replacement, and thus the rack markincluding the reagent of “B11-2” is displayed in the predetermined color(e.g., yellow (illustrated in left diagonal hatching in FIG. 8). Asshown in FIG. 9, the first rack mark 424 or the second rack mark 425 isdisplayed in a predetermined color (e.g., green) in the retrievablestate. In FIG. 9, the rack mark including the reagent of “B11-2” isdisplayed in the predetermined color (e.g., green (illustrated in rightdiagonal hatching in FIG. 9)). The replacement and addition of thereagent will be hereinafter described in detail.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the detailed information of thereagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark can be edited bypushing the reagent information edit button 440 b in the reagent markspecified state. Specifically, the reagent information edit dialogue 450is displayed when the reagent edit button 440 b is pushed, as shown inFIG. 11. The reagent information edit dialogue 450 includes a settingchanging work region 451 for changing each item (“lot number”, “setdate”, “expiration date”, etc.) of the detailed information, an updatebutton 452, and a cancel button 453. After the user edits the detailedinformation in the setting changing work region 451, the edited detailedinformation is reflected on the reagent detailed information displayingregion 430 by pushing the update button 452. The editing of the detailedinformation is canceled by pushing the cancel button 453. The editing ofthe detailed information of the reagent will be hereinafter described indetail.

The reagent lot usage setting button 440 c has a function of displayinga reagent lot usage setting dialogue 460 for setting whether therespective lot or the combination of the lots are usable with respect tothe plurality of reagent lots or the combination of the plurality ofreagent lots for each measurement item. The specific example will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 12. In FIG. 12, a case where “PT THS”and “F.II” is used as the reagent used in the measurement item “F.II” isshown. Four lot numbers “500509” to “500512” are usable in reagent“F.II”, and one lot number “505748” is usable in reagent “PT THS”. Thatis, in FIG. 11, four types of combination are obtained for thecombination of reagent “PT THS” and reagent “F.II” when measuring themeasurement item “F.II”. The user can set which combination out of thefour types of combinations to use for the measurement in the reagent lotusage setting dialogue 460. The checkbox “use” has a function of settingwhether to use the combination of the corresponding reagents forprecision managing measurement and calibration curve measurement. Thecheckbox “validate” has a function of setting whether to use thecombination of the corresponding reagents for the normal specimenmeasurement. That is, in the example of FIG. 11, the combination of thereagent “PT THS” (lot number 505748) and the reagent “F.II” (lot number500512) is set so as to be used for the precision managing measurementand the calibration curve measurement, but not to be used for the normalspecimen measurement. The combination of the reagent “PT THS” (lotnumber 505748) and the reagent “F.II” (lot number 500511) is set so asto be used for the precision managing measurement and the calibrationcurve measurement, and to be also used for the normal specimenmeasurement. The combination of the reagent “PT THS” (lot number 505748)and the reagent “F.II” (lot number 500510 or 500509) is set so as not tobe used for the precision managing measurement and the calibration curvemeasurement, and also not to be used for the normal specimenmeasurement. The plurality of reagents having different lot numbers inone type of reagent thus can be assigned for each measurement item.

The reagent master setting button 440 d has a function of displaying areagent master setting dialogue (not shown) for setting the reagentmaster (table) having a correspondence relationship between the valueread from the barcode 300 a of the reagent container 300 and the reagentname. The reagent lot master setting button 440 e has a function ofdisplaying a reagent lot master setting dialogue (not shown) for settingthe reagent lot master (table) having a correspondence relationshipbetween the value read from the barcode 300 a of the reagent container300 and the reagent lot and expiration date. The container mastersetting button 440 f has a function of displaying a container mastersetting dialogue (not shown) for setting the container mater (table)having a correspondence relationship between the value read from thebarcode 300 a of the reagent container 300 and the type of the reagentcontainer 300.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the specimen conveyance mechanism unit 3 isadapted to convey a rack 251 mounted with a plurality of (ten in thepresent embodiment) test tubes 250 accommodating the specimen to asuction position 2 a (see FIG. 3) of the measurement mechanism unit 2 tosupply the specimen to the measurement mechanism unit 2. The conveyancemechanism unit 3 includes a rack set region 3 a for setting the rack 251in which the test tubes 250 accommodating non-processed blood specimenare accommodated, and a rack accommodating region 3 b for accommodatingthe rack 251 in which the test tubes 250 accommodating processedspecimen are accommodated.

The measurement mechanism unit 2 is configured to perform opticalmeasurement on the specimen supplied from the conveyance mechanism unit3 to acquire optical information related to the supplied specimen. Inthe present embodiment, optical measurement is performed on the specimendispensed into a cuvette 200 of the measurement mechanism unit 2 fromthe test tube 250 mounted on the rack 251 of the conveyance mechanismunit 3. The measurement mechanism unit 2 includes a reagent storingsection 6 for storing the reagents and a reagent replacing section 7 forreplacing or adding the reagent, as shown in FIG. 3.

As shown in FIG. 17, the measurement mechanism unit 2 includes aspecimen dispensing driving section 70 a, a reagent dispensing drivingsection 120 a, a first driving section 502, a second driving section503, a first lock detecting section 504, a second lock detecting section505, the reagent barcode reader 350, the specimen barcode reader 3 c, afirst optical information acquiring section 80, a second opticalinformation acquiring section 130, and a control section 501electrically connected to the conveyance mechanism unit 3 and the like.

The measurement dispensing driving section 70 a includes a steppingmotor part 70 b having a function of rotating and moving up and down thespecimen dispensing arm 70 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), to be hereinafterdescribed, a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the stepping motorportion 70 b, and a pump (not shown) for pumping and dispensing thespecimen.

The reagent dispensing driving section 120 a includes a stepping motorpart 120 b having a function of rotating and moving up and down thereagent dispensing arm 120 (see FIGS. 3 and 5), to be hereinafterdescribed, a drive circuit (not shown) for driving the stepping motor120 b, and a pump (not shown) for pumping and dispensing the reagent.

The first driving section 502 includes a first stepping motor (notshown) having a function of rotating the first reagent table 11 (seeFIG. 5), to be hereinafter described, and a drive circuit (not shown)for driving the first stepping motor. The first reagent table 11 rotatesby the amount corresponding to the number of pulses of the driving pulsesignal provided from the control section 501 to the first drivingsection 502, and then stops.

Similarly, the second driving section 503 includes a second steppingmotor (not shown) having a function of rotating the first reagent table12 (see FIG. 5), to be hereinafter described, and a drive circuit (notshown) for driving the second stepping motor. The second reagent table12 rotates by the amount corresponding to the number of pulses of thedriving pulse signal provided from the control section 501 to the seconddriving section 503, and then stops.

The control section 501 counts the number of pulses of the provideddriving pulse signal to determine the amount of rotation movement ofeach reagent table 11, 12 from the position of origin of the firstreagent 11 and the second reagent table 12, and controls the rotationmovement of each reagent table 11, 12.

The first lock detecting section 504 has a function of detecting alocked state of a first lid 30 (see FIG. 3), to be hereinafterdescribed, and transmitting a lock signal to the control section 501when locked.

Similarly, the second lock detecting section 505 has a function ofdetecting a locked state of a second lid 40 (see FIG. 3), to behereinafter described, and transmitting a lock signal to the controlsection 501 when locked.

The reagent barcode reader 350 has a function of reading each barcode onthe first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12, and isarranged in the vicinity of the side surface 21 of the reagent storingsection 6, to be hereinafter described, with a predetermined distancefrom the reagent storing section 6 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). The reagentbarcode reader 350 is able to transmit and receive data with the controlsection 501, and also includes a drive circuit (not shown) for ON/OFFcontrolling the reagent barcode reader 350. The position of the reagentbarcode reader 350 is always fixed.

The specimen barcode reader 3 c has a function of reading the barcodeattached to the test tube 250 in which the specimen mounted on the rack251 conveyed by the conveyance mechanism unit 3 is accommodated, and isarranged in the vicinity of the suction position 2 a of the measurementmechanism unit 2 described above so as to face the rack 251 conveyed bythe conveyance mechanism unit 3 (see FIGS. 3 to 5). The specimen barcodereader 3 c is able to transmit and receive data with the control section501, and also includes a drive circuit (not shown) for ON/OFFcontrolling the specimen barcode reader 3 c. The position of thespecimen barcode reader 3 c is always fixed.

The first optical information acquiring section 80 and the secondoptical information acquiring section 130 (see FIGS. 3 and 5)respectively has a function of acquiring the optical information of thespecimen, and is configured to transmit and receive data with thecontrol section 501. The details of the first optical informationacquiring section 80 and the second optical information acquiringsection 130 will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in FIG. 18, the control section 501 is mainly configured by aCPU 501 a, a ROM 501 b, a RAM 501 c, and a communication interface 501d.

The CPU 501 a executes computer programs stored in the ROM 501 b and thecomputer programs loaded in the RAM 501 c. The ROM 501 b is recordedwith computer programs to be executed by the CPU 501 a, data used forexecuting the computer program, and the like. The RAM 501 c is used toread out the computer programs recorded on the ROM 501 b. The RAM 501 cis used as a work region of the CPU 501 a when executing the computerprograms.

The communication interface 501 d is connected to the control device 4,and has a function of transmitting optical information of the specimento the control device 4 and receiving the signal form the controlsection 4 a of the control device 4. The communication interface 501 dhas a function of transmitting commands from the CPU 501 a to drive eachsection of the conveyance mechanism unit 3 and the measurement mechanismunit 2.

As shown in FIG. 3, the measurement mechanism unit 2 includes thereagent storing section 6 for storing the reagent and the reagentreplacing section 7 for replacing or adding the reagent.

The reagent storing section 6 is arranged to refrigerate the reagentcontainer 300 accommodating the reagent to be applied to the specimen inthe cuvette 200 at low temperature (about 10° C.) and to convey thereagent container 300 in the rotating direction. The alteration of thereagent is suppressed by storing the reagent at low temperature. Thereagent storing section 6 includes a reagent conveying part 10 (seeFIGS. 4 and 5) for holding and rotation conveying the reagent and anouter wall part 20 (see FIG. 3) arranged so as to cover the peripheryand the upper side of the reagent conveying part 10, as shown in FIGS. 3to 5. The reagent conveying part 10 holding the reagent is arranged inthe refrigerating region formed by the outer wall part 20, and a firstlid 30 and a second lid 40 of the reagent replacing section 7, to behereinafter described.

As shown in FIG. 5, the reagent conveying part 10 includes the firstreagent table 11 of circular shape, and the second reagent table 12 ofcircular ring shape arranged concentrically with respect to the firstreagent table 11 on the outer side of the first reagent table 11 ofcircular shape. The first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table12 are respectively configured so that the first reagent container rack310 and the second reagent container rack 320 for holding the reagentcontainer 300 can be removably arranged. The outer wall part 20 isconfigured by a side face 21 (see FIG. 4), an upper face 22 (see FIG. 3)fixed to the side face 21, and a detachable lid 23 (see FIG. 3). Thebarcode reader 350 is arranged in the vicinity of the side face 21 (seeFIG. 4) of the reagent storing section 6 at a predetermined distancewith the reagent storing section 6.

The first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 arerespectively configured so as to be rotatable both in the clockwisedirection and in the counterclockwise direction, where each table isrotatable independent from each other. The first reagent container rack310 and the second reagent container rack 320 for holding the reagentcontainer 300 accommodating the reagent are respectively conveyed in therotating direction by the first reagent table 11 and the second reagenttable 12. The reagent to be dispensed can be arranged close to thereagent dispensing arm 120 when the reagent dispensing arm 120, to behereinafter described, dispenses the reagent by conveying the reagentcontainer 300 in the rotating direction.

Furthermore, a heat insulation material (not shown) is attached to theside face 21 of the outer wall part 20 so that cooled air in the reagentstoring section 6 (refrigerating region) does not escape. As shown inFIG. 4, a shutter 21 a that can be opened and closed is arranged at aposition facing the barcode reader 350 of the side face 21 of the outerwall part 20. The shutter 21 a is configured to open only when readingthe barcode of the reagent container 300, the first reagent containerrack 310, and the second reagent container rack 320 by the barcodereader 350. The cooled air in the reagent storing section 6(refrigerating region) is thereby suppressed from escaping outside.

As shown in FIG. 3, the upper face 22 of the outer wall part 20 includesthree holes 22 a, 22 b, and 22 c. The suction of the reagent stored inthe reagent storing section 6 is performed by the reagent dispensing arm120 through the three holes 22 a, 22 b, and 22 c. The hole 22 a ispositioned above the reagent container 300 held at the first reagentcontainer rack 310. The suction of the reagent is performed from thereagent container 300 held at the first reagent container rack 310through the hole 22 a. The holes 22 b and 22 c are positioned above thereagent container 300 held in the back row and the front row of thesecond reagent container rack 320. The suction of the reagent isperformed from the reagent container 300 held at the back row and thefront row of the second reagent container rack 320 through the holes 22b and 22 c.

A semicircular opening is formed in the reagent storing section 6(refrigerating region) by detaching the lid 23 with the first lid 30 andthe second lid 40, to be hereinafter described. When starting themeasurement in the sample analyzer 1, the first reagent container rack310 and the second reagent container rack 320 are arranged in thereagent storing section 6 through such opening.

As shown in FIG. 5, five first reagent container racks 310 can bearranged in the first reagent table 11. The reagent containers 300 arearranged in a circular ring form in these five first reagent containerracks 310. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 15, the first reagent container rack310 includes two holding parts 310 and 312 for holding the reagentcontainer 300, cut-out portions 311 a and 312 a respectively arranged onthe front face side of the holding parts 311 and 312, and one grippingpart 313 arranged so as to project upward. Moreover, as shown in FIG.13, the holding parts 311 and 312 are formed into a circular form inplan view, and are able to hold the reagent container 300 when thereagent container 300 of cylindrical shape is inserted thereto. Thereagent container 300 having an outer diameter smaller than the innerdiameter of the holding parts 311 or 312 can be held by the holding part311 or 312 by attaching an adapter (not shown) to the holding part 311or 312. The first reagent container rack 310 includes two types of racksformed so that the combination of the inner diameters of the holdingparts 311 and 312 is different. The user can respond to the reagentcontainer 300 of various sizes by appropriately changing the type ofrack. Barcodes 311 b and 312 b are respectively arranged on the frontface side of the outer surface of the holding parts 311 and 312, andbarcodes 311 c and 312 c are respectively arranged on the inner surfaceof the holding parts 311 and 312.

The two holding parts 311 and 312 can hold a plurality of reagentcontainers 300 accommodating various reagents to be added when preparingmeasurement sample from a specimen one by one. That is, a maximum of ten(2×5=10) of reagent containers 300 can be arranged on the first reagenttable 11. Each cut-out portion 311 a and 312 a is arranged to read thebarcodes 311 c and 312 c with the barcode reader 350 (see FIG. 5). Thegripping part 313 is gripped when taking out the first reagent containerrack 310 from the reagent storing section 6.

Each barcode 311 b and 312 b includes positional information (holdernumber) for identifying the position of the holding parts 311 and 312.The barcodes 311 c and 312 c include information (no reagent containerinformation) indicating that the reagent container 300 held by theholding parts 311 and 312 does not exist. Furthermore, the barcode 300 aof the reagent container 300 includes information for specifying thedetailed information (information of reagent name, type of reagentcontainer, lot number, expiration date of reagent, etc.) of the reagentaccommodated in the reagent container 300.

If the reagent container 300 is held in the holding part 311, forexample, the barcode 311 c is not read and the barcode 300 a of thereagent container 300 is read. That is, if the barcode 300 a is readafter reading the barcode 311 b with the barcode reader 350, the controlsection 4 a recognizes that the reagent having the reagent informationfrom the barcode 300 a is held in the holding part 311. In the reagentarrangement displaying region 420 of the reagent managing screen 410,the first reagent mark 421 is displayed at a position corresponding tothe holding part 311. When the barcode 311 c is read after the barcode311 b is read by the barcode reader 350, the control section 4 arecognizes that the reagent container 300 being held at the holding part311 does not exist. In the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 ofthe reagent managing screen 410, the reagent non-arranged mark 427 isdisplayed at the position corresponding to the holding part 311. Ifeither the barcode 300 a or the barcode 311 c is read after the barcode311 b is read by the barcode reader 350 (when reagent container 300 isfacing the side), the control section 4 a recognizes a reading error andto display a barcode reading error mark E indicating that reading hasfailed on the display device 4 b. If the first reagent container rackitself is not arranged in the first reagent table 11, the barcode reader350 is configured so as not to read the barcodes 311 b, 312 b, 311 c,312 c of the first reagent container rack 310 and the barcode 300 a ofthe reagent container 300. Thus, in the reagent arrangement displayregion 420 of the reagent managing screen 410, the rack non-arrangedmark 426 is displayed on the first rack mark 424 corresponding to theportion not arranged with the first reagent container rack 310.

As shown in FIG. 5, five second reagent container racks 320 can bearranged in the second reagent table 12. The reagent containers 300 arearranged in a circular ring form in these five second reagent containerracks 320. One of the five gaps of the second reagent container rack 320adjacent to each other has a spacing larger than the spacing of theother four gaps. The barcodes 311 b and 312 b of the first reagentcontainer rack 310 arranged in the first reagent table 11 positioned onthe inner side of the second reagent table 12 and the barcode 300 a ofthe reagent container 300 held by the first reagent container rack 310are read by the barcode reader 350 positioned exterior to the reagentstoring section 6 by way of a gap 12 a having the large spacing. Asshown in FIGS. 14 and 16, the second reagent container rack 320 includessix holding parts 321 to 326 for holding the reagent container 300,cut-out portions 321 a to 326 a respectively arranged on the front faceside of the holding parts 321 to 326, and one gripping part 327 arrangedso as to project upward. Moreover, the holding parts 321 to 326 of thesecond reagent container rack 320 are formed into a circular form inplan view, similar to the first reagent container rack 310, and are ableto hold the reagent container 300 when the reagent container 300 ofcylindrical shape is inserted thereto. The second reagent container rack320 includes three types of racks formed so that the combination of theinner diameters of the holding parts 321 to 326 is different. Thereagent same as the reagent arranged in the first reagent container rack310 can be arranged in the second reagent container rack 320.

Barcodes 321 b and 322 b are respectively arranged on both sides of thecut-out portion 321 a on the front column side. Similarly, barcodes 323b and 324 b as well as barcodes 325 b and 326 b are respectivelyarranged on both sides of the cut-put portion 323 a and on both sides ofthe cut-out portion 325 a. Barcodes 321 c to 326 c are respectivelyarranged on the inner surface of the holding parts 321 to 326.

Each barcode 321 b to 326 b include positional information (holdernumber) for identifying the position of the holding parts 321 to 326.The barcodes 321 c and 326 c include information (no reagent containerinformation) indicating that the reagent container 300 held by theholding parts 321 to 326 does not exist.

Furthermore, the reagent information or no reagent container informationread by the barcode reader 350 are stored in a hard disc 401 d of thecontrol section 4 a in correspondence to the positional information(holder number). The information stored in the hard disc 401 d isreflected on the reagent managing screen 410 of the display device 4 bby the control section 4 a of the control device 4.

The barcodes 311 b, 312 b and 321 b to 326 b show four digit values. Thefirst digit takes a value of “A” or “B”, where “A” indicates that thereagent container 300 is arranged in the second reagent table 12, and“B” indicates that the reagent container 300 is arranged in the firstreagent table 11. The second digit takes a value between “1” to “5”,where “1” to “3” each indicates the shape of the three types of thesecond reagent container rack 320, and “4” and “5” each indicates theshape of the two types of the first reagent container rack 310. Thethird digit takes a value between “0” to “9” and indicates the number ofthe first reagent container rack 310 or the second reagent containerrack 320. The fourth digit takes a value of “1” or “2” in the barcodes311 b and 312 b of the first reagent container rack 310, where “1” and“2” indicates the holding part 311 and 312, respectively. The fourthdigit takes a value between “1” and “6” in the barcodes 321 b to 326 bof the second reagent container rack 320, where “1” to “6” respectivelyindicates the holding parts 321 to 326. The value of the barcode(barcodes 311 b, 312 b and 321 b to 326 b) is reflected on the positiondisplaying part 421 a of the first reagent mark 421, the positiondisplaying part 422 a of the second reagent mark 422, or the positiondisplaying part 427 a of the reagent non-arranged mark 427 of thereagent managing screen 410, as shown in FIG. 7. For example, if thevalue of the barcode is “A11-6”, this represents the sixth holding part(holding part 326) of the second reagent container rack 320 of racknumber 1 in the rack (second reagent container rack 320) correspondingto “1” of the three types arranged in the second reagent table 12. Thatis, the first three digits of the four digit values specify the reagentcontainer rack, and the last one digit specifies the position of thereagent in the reagent container rack.

The reagent name of the detailed information is reflected on the reagentname displaying parts 421 b and 422 b of the first reagent mark 421 andthe second reagent mark 422 of the reagent managing screen 410. The noreagent container information is reflected to the reagent non-arrangedmark 427. As shown in FIG. 7, the reagent name is displayed on thereagent name displaying part 421 b or 422 b if the reagent is arranged,and nothing will be displayed on the reagent name displaying part 421 bor 422 b if the reagent is not arranged. For example, the reagent name“CaC12” is arranged in the reagent position “A12-5”, and the reagent isnot arranged in the reagent position “A14-2”.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reagent replacing section 7 is arrangedin the vicinity of the central part of the sample analyzer 1. In thepresent embodiment, the reagent replacing section 7 includes detachablefirst lid 30 and second lid 40 including a lock mechanism 31 and 41,respectively, and a notifying part 50 for notifying the conveyance stateof the first reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 to theuser, as shown in FIG. 3.

The first lid 30 is adapted so as to be detached when replacing thereagent container 300 arranged in the first reagent table 11 (firstreagent container rack 310). The lock mechanism 31 of the first lid 30is arranged to lock the first lid 30 so as not to detach in time ofnormal use or after replacement or addition of the reagent is finishedand to have the control section 4 a recognize that replacement oraddition of the reagent in the first reagent table 11 is finished.

The second lid 40 is adapted so as to be detached when replacing thereagent container 300 arranged in the second reagent table 12 (secondreagent container rack 320). The lock mechanism 41 of the second lid 40is arranged to lock the second lid 40 so as not to detach in time ofnormal use or after replacement or addition of the reagent is finishedand to have the control section 4 a recognize that replacement oraddition of the reagent in the second reagent table 12 is finished.

The notifying part 50 includes two LED indicators 51 and 52. As shown inFIGS. 1 and 3, the two LED indicators 51 and 52 are arranged in thevicinity of the second lid 40, and are visible by the user from outsidethe sample analyzer 1. The LED indicators 51 and 52 can emit light inblue or red.

The LED indicator 51 has a function of notifying the user that the firstreagent container rack 310 corresponding to the reagent of the firstreagent table 11 specified by the user in the reagent managing screen410 has moved to a retrieving position (below the first lid 30) at wherethe reagent can be replaced. Specifically, the LED indicator 51 isconfigured to emit a red light while the first reagent table 11 isrotatably moving, and to emit a blue light when the first reagentcontainer rack 310 corresponding to the reagent of the specified firstreagent table 11 is moved to the retrieving position and stopped. Thusthe timing of detaching the first lid 30 to replace or add the reagentcan be notified to the user.

The LED indicator 52 has a function of notifying the user that thesecond reagent container rack 320 corresponding to the reagent of thesecond reagent table 12 specified by the user in the reagent managingscreen 410 has moved to a retrieving position (below the second lid 40)at where the reagent can be replaced. Similar to the LED indicator 51,the LED indicator 52 is configured to emit a red light while the secondreagent table 12 is rotatably moving, and to emit a blue light when thesecond reagent container rack 320 corresponding to the reagent of thespecified second reagent table 12 is moved to the retrieving positionand stopped.

The sample analyzer 1 is configured such that the reading of the barcode300 a of all the reagent containers 300 held in the first reagentcontainer rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 holding thereplaced reagent is automatically performed after the user locks thefirst lid 30 or the second lid 40 when the replacement or addition ofthe reagent is finished. When reagents other than the specified reagentcontained in the same first reagent container rack 310 or the secondreagent container rack 320 is replaced in addition to the specifiedreagent when one reagent is specified and the replacement of the reagentis instructed, the arrangement of the reagents after the replacement iscorrectly reflected on the reagent managing screen 410.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the measurement mechanism unit 2includes a cuvette conveying section 60, the specimen dispensing arm 70,the first optical information acquiring section 80, a lamp unit 90, awarming section 100, a cuvette transporting section 110, the reagentdispensing arm 120, the second optical information acquiring section130, the urgent specimen setting section 140, a fluid section 150, and acuvette supply mechanism section 160.

The cuvette conveying section 60 has a function of conveying the cuvette200 to each section of the sample analyzer 1. The cuvette conveyingsection 60 includes a cuvette conveying table 61 of circular ring shapearranged on the outer side of the second reagent table 12 of circularring shape, and a plurality of cylindrical shaped cuvette holding parts62 arranged at a predetermined interval along the circumferentialdirection on the cuvette conveying table 61. The cuvette holding part 62is arranged to hold the cuvette 200 one by one. The specimenaccommodated in the test tube 250 of the conveyance mechanism unit 3 andthe reagent held in the reagent holding section 6 are dispensed into thecuvette 200 (see FIG. 5) held in the cuvette holding part 62 of thecuvette conveying table 61 to prepare the measurement sample.

The specimen dispensing arm 70 has a function of suctioning the specimenaccommodated in the test tube 250 conveyed to the suction position 2 aby the conveyance mechanism unit 3, and dispensing the suctionedspecimen into the cuvette 200 held by the cuvette holding part 62 of thecuvette conveying table 61.

The first optical information acquiring section 80 is configured toacquire optical information from the specimen to measure the presenceand the concentration of interfering substances (milky fluid (fat),hemoglobin, and bilirubin) in the specimen before the reagent is added.Specifically, the presence and the concentration of the interferingsubstance are measured using four types of light (405 nm, 575 nm, 660nm, and 800 nm) out of the five types of light (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm,660 nm, and 800 nm) irradiated from the lamp unit 90 to be hereinafterdescribed. The light having a wavelength of 405 nm is light that isabsorbed by any one of milky fluid, hemoglobin, and bilirubin. That is,the influence of milky fluid, hemoglobin, and bilirubin contributes tothe optical information measured by the light having the wavelength of405 nm. The light having a wavelength of 575 nm is light that is notsubstantially absorbed by bilirubin but is absorbed by milky fluid andhemoglobin. That is, influence of milky fluid and hemoglobin contributesto the optical information measured by the light having the wavelengthof 575 nm. The light having a wavelength of 660 nm and 800 nm are lightthat are not substantially absorbed by bilirubin and hemoglobin but areabsorbed by milky fluid. That is, influence of milky fluid contributesto the optical information measured by the light having the wavelengthof 660 nm and 800 nm. The milky fluid absorbs the light having thewavelength from 405 nm of low wavelength region up to 800 nm of highwavelength region, and the light having the wavelength of 660 nm is moreabsorbed by the milky fluid than the light having the wavelength of 800nm. That is, the influence of the milky fluid is small in the opticalinformation measured by the light having the wavelength of 800 nm thanin the optical information measured by the light having the wavelengthof 660 nm.

The acquisition of the optical information of the specimen by the firstoptical information acquiring section 80 is performed prior to theoptical measurement (actual measurement) of the specimen by the secondoptical information acquiring section 130. The first optical informationacquiring section 80 acquires optical information (information bytransmitted light of the specimen) from the specimen in the cuvette 200held by the cuvette holding part 62 of the cuvette conveying table 61.

Furthermore, the first optical information acquiring section 80 iselectrically connected to the control section 4 a of the control device4, and transmits the data (optical information) acquired by the firstoptical information acquiring section 80 to the control section 4 a ofthe control device 4. Thus, analysis of the data from the first opticalinformation acquiring section 80 is carried out in the control device 4,so that the absorbance of the specimen in the cuvette 200 with respectto the five types of light exited from a branched optical fibers 91 isobtained, and the presence and the concentration of the interferingsubstances in the specimen etc. are analyzed. In the present embodiment,judgment is made on whether or not to analyze the optical informationmeasured in the second optical information acquiring section 130, to behereinafter described, based on the presence and the concentration ofthe interfering substances in the specimen.

As shown in FIG. 5, the lamp unit 90 is arranged to provide light (340nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) having five types of wavelengthused in the optical measurement performed in the first opticalinformation acquiring section 80 and the second optical informationacquiring section 130. That is, one lamp unit 90 is configured to becommonly used for the first optical information acquiring section 80 andthe second optical information acquiring section 130. The light of thelamp unit 90 is provided to the first optical information acquiringsection 80 and the second optical information acquiring section 130 bythe branched optical fiber 91 and the branched optical fiber 92,respectively.

The warming section 100 includes a plate 101 that can be heat-retained,and is arranged with ten concave shaped cuvette holding parts 101 a.Each cuvette holding part 101 a is capable of holding one cuvette 200,and has a function of warming the specimen in the cuvette 200 to about37° C. by holding the cuvette 200 dispensed with the specimen for a fewminutes in the cuvette holding part 101 a. The specimen warmed by thewarming section 100 is dispensed with reagent and subjected tomeasurement within a constant time after warming is finished. Thealteration of the specimen, and the measurement sample prepared from thespecimen and the reagent is suppressed, and the measurement resultstabilizes.

The cuvette transporting section 110 is arranged to transport thecuvette 200 among the cuvette conveying section 60, the warming section100, and the second optical information acquiring section 130. Thecuvette transporting section 110 includes a transport catcher part 111for gripping the cuvette 200 and a driving part 112 for moving thetransport catcher part 111. The transport catcher part 111 is movable inthe moving region 110 a by the drive of the driving part 112, andtransports the cuvette 200 among the cuvette conveying section 60, thewarming section 100, and a measurement mounting part 131 of the secondoptical information acquiring section 130. A vibrating function isprovided to the transport catcher part 111, whereby the specimen and thereagent in the cuvette 200 can be stirred by vibrating the cuvette 200while gripping the cuvette 200.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is arranged tomix the reagent with the specimen in the cuvette 200 by dispensing thereagent in the reagent container 300 placed in the reagent storingsection 6 into the cuvette 200. Specifically, suction of the reagent isperformed through holes 22 a, 22 b, or 22 c (see FIG. 3) in the outerwall part 20 of the reagent storing section 6, and the transport catcherpart 111 takes out the cuvette 200 in which warming (37° C.) iscompleted from the cuvette holding part 101 a of the warming section 100and dispenses the suctioned reagent into the cuvette 200 in a grippingstate. A warming function is provided to a pipette part 121 of thereagent dispensing arm 120, and the suctioned reagent is instantaneouslywarmed to about 37° C. That is, the low temperature (about 10° C.)stored reagent in the reagent storing section 6 is mixed with thespecimen of about 37° C., which warming is completed, while being warmedto about 37° C. by the reagent dispensing arm 120. Therefore, thereagent is added to the specimen completed with optical measurement bythe first optical information acquiring section 80 to prepare themeasurement sample.

In the present embodiment, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is configuredto move the pipette part 121 in the up and down direction through pulsecontrol by a stepping motor (not shown) when performing the dispensingoperation. A sensor (not shown) for detecting the fluid level of thereagent when suctioning the reagent from the reagent container 300 isarranged at the distal end of the pipette part 121 of the reagentdispensing arm 120. Thus, the height of the fluid level of the reagentin the reagent container 300 can be calculated by the number of pulseuntil the fluid level of the reagent is detected, and the movementamount for one pulse. The procedures for calculating the height of thefluid level of the reagent will be hereinafter described in detail.

In the present embodiment, when replacement of the reagent is instructedduring the operation of the reagent dispensing arm 120, the dispensingtask of the reagent to be dispensed by the reagent dispensing arm 120from the reagent table containing the specified reagent is stopped ifthe dispensing task of the reagent to be dispensed is carried out fromthe reagent table containing the specified reagent. In this case, if thereagent to be dispensed is also contained in the reagent table differentfrom the reagent table containing the specified reagent, the reagentdispensing arm 120 stops the dispensing task of the reagent to bedispensed of the reagent table containing the specified reagent, andcontinues the dispensing task from the reagent to be dispensed containedin the other reagent table. If the reagent to be dispensed is arrangedonly in the reagent table containing the reagent instructed to bereplaced, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is configured so as not toperform the dispensing operation after finishing the dispensing of thereagent to be dispensed with respect to the specimen (specimen waitingto be dispensed with reagent) being warmed in the warming section 100 intime of replacement instruction. Therefore, the measurement is performedwithin a constant time after warming even for the specimen that is beingwarmed in the warming section 100 in time of replacement instruction.

The second optical information acquiring section 130 has a function ofmeasuring optical information from the measurement sample. As shown inFIG. 5, the second optical information acquiring section 130 isconfigured by a measurement mounting part 131 and a detecting part 132arranged below the measurement mounting part 131.

The detecting part 132 of the second optical information acquiringsection 130 is configured so as to perform optical measurement (actualmeasurement) under a plurality of conditions on the measurement samplein the cuvette 200. The second optical information acquiring section 130is electrically connected to the control section 4 a of the controldevice 4 and transmits the acquired data (optical information) to thecontrol section 4 a of the control device 4. In the control device 4,the data (optical information) transmitted from the second opticalinformation acquiring section 130 is analyzed based on the result ofanalysis of the data (optical information) from the first opticalinformation acquiring section 80 acquired in advance, and displayed onthe display device 4 b.

The light having the wavelength 660 nm irradiated from the branchedoptical fiber 92 is the main wavelength used in measuring Fbg(Fibrinogen content), PT (prothrombin time), and APTT (activated partialthromboplastin time). The light having the wavelength of 800 nm is thesub-wavelength used in measuring as Fbg, PT, and APTT. The measuringwavelength of ATIII, which is the measurement item of syntheticsubstrate method, is 405 nm, and the measuring wavelength of D dimmerand FDP, which are the measurement items of immunoturibidmetric method,is 800 nm. The measuring wavelength of the platelet agglutination methodis 575 nm.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the urgent specimen setting section 140 isarranged to perform specimen analyzing process on the urgent specimen.The urgent specimen setting section 140 is configured to cut the urgentspecimen in when the specimen analyzing process is being performed onthe specimen supplied from the conveyance mechanism unit 3. The urgentspecimen setting section 140 is slidable in the X direction and isarranged with five holding parts 141 for holding the container (notshown) accommodating diluting fluid and cleaning fluid. A barcode (notshown) is attached to the container (not shown) accommodating thediluting fluid and the cleaning fluid. The barcode of the diluting fluidand the cleaning fluid is configured so as to be read by the barcodereader 351 while the urgent specimen setting section 140 is being slidin the X direction. Thus, the type, arrangement, and the like of thediluting fluid and the cleaning fluid are displayed as adiluting/cleaning fluid mark 423 of the reagent managing screen 410. Asshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lid 1 c is arranged on the front face side ofthe replacing section 7 of the sample analyzer 1. The replacement oraddition of the container (not shown) accommodating the diluting fluidand the cleaning fluid is performed through the lid 1 c.

The fluid section 150 is arranged to supply fluid such as cleaning fluidto the nozzle arranged in each dispensing arm (specimen dispensing arm70 and reagent dispensing arm 120) in the shut-down process of thesample analyzer 1.

The cuvette supply mechanism section 160 is configured to sequentiallysupply the plurality of cuvettes 200 randomly placed by the user to thecuvette conveying section 60. As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the cuvettesupply mechanism section 160 includes a first hopper 161 a, a secondhopper 161 b supplied with the cuvette 200 from the first hopper 161 aand being smaller than the first hopper 161 a; two induction plates 162supplied with the cuvette 200 from the second hopper 161 b; a supportingtable 163 arranged on the lower end of the two induction plates 162; anda supply catcher part 164 arranged at a predetermined distance from thesupporting table 163. The cuvette 200 supplied to the first hopper 161 ais slidably moved towards the supporting table 163 on the inductionplates 162 by way of the second hopper 161 b which is smaller than thefirst hopper 161 a. The supporting table 163 rotatably transports thecuvette 200 slidably moved on the induction plates 162 to a positionallowing the supply catcher part 164 to grip the cuvette 200. The supplycatcher section 164 is arranged to supply the cuvette 200 rotatablytransported by the supporting table 163 to the rotation conveyingsection 60.

Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, a discarding hole 171 (see FIGS.3 and 5) for discarding the cuvette 200 and a discarding box 172arranged under the discarding hole 171 are arranged at a predeterminedspacing from the supply catcher part 164 described above in themeasurement mechanism unit 2. The supply catcher part 164 describedabove can discard the cuvette 200 on a cuvette conveying table 61 of thecuvette conveying section 60 to the discarding box 172 through thediscarding hole 171 (see FIGS. 3 and 5). That is, the supply catcherpart 164 performs both supply and discard of the cuvette 200.

The specimen analyzing operation of the sample analyzer 1 will now bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. The operation inthe measurement using coagulation time will be described herein.

First, the power of the measurement mechanism unit 2 and the controldevice 4 of the sample analyzer 1 shown in FIG. 4 are turned ON toperform the initial setting of the sample analyzer 1. The operation forreturning the mechanisms for moving the cuvette 200 and each dispensingarm (specimen dispensing arm 70 and reagent dispensing arm 120) to therespective initial positions, initialization of the software stored inthe control section 4 a of the control device 4, and the like arethereby performed.

The rack 251 mounted with the test tube 250 accommodating the specimenis conveyed by the conveyance mechanism unit 3 shown in FIG. 5. The rack251 in the rack set region 3 a is thereby conveyed to the positioncorresponding to the suction position 2 a of the measurement mechanismunit 2.

A predetermined amount of specimen is suctioned from the test tube 250by the specimen dispensing arm 70. The specimen dispensing arm 70 ismoved above the cuvette 200 held at the cuvette conveying table 61 ofthe cuvette conveying section 60. Thereafter, the specimen is dischargedinto the cuvette 200 of the cuvette conveying table 61 from the specimendispensing arm 70, and the specimen is sorted in the cuvette 200.

The cuvette conveying table 61 is then rotated to convey the cuvette 200dispensed with the specimen to the position at where measurement can beperformed by the first optical information acquiring section 80. Theoptical measurement is thus carried out on the specimen by the firstoptical information acquiring section 80, and optical information isacquired from the specimen. Specifically, the electric signal data fromfive types (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) of lighttransmitted through the specimen in the cuvette 200 held in the cuvetteholding part 62 (see FIG. 5) of the cuvette conveying table 61 aretransmitted to the control section 4 a of the control device 4. Theacquisition of optical information (first optical information) on thespecimen by the first optical information acquiring section 80 isthereby completed.

The control section 4 a of the control device 4 calculates theabsorbance of the specimen using the received data (first opticalinformation) and calculates the presence and concentration of theinterfering substances (milky fluid, hemoglobin, bilirubin) in thespecimen. Specifically, the control section 4 a of the control device 4calculates the absorbance of the specimen based on the opticalinformation (first optical information) acquired using four types (405nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) of light irradiated from the lamp unit90, and stores the absorbance in the RAM 401 c.

Subsequently, determination is made on whether or not the absorbance atthe main wavelength out of the absorbance stored in the RAM 401 c islower than or equal to the threshold value. Specifically, in the casewhere the examining items of the specimen are the examining items of thecoagulation time method such as “PT”, “APTT”, “Fbg” etc., determinationis made on whether or not the absorbance calculated from the firstoptical information measured by irradiating the light having thewavelength 660 nm, which is the main wavelength for the relevant items,is lower than or equal to a threshold value (e.g., 2.0).

If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical information acquiringsection 80 is lower than or equal to the threshold value, the cuvette200 is transported to the warming section 100 from the cuvette conveyingtable 61 by the cuvette transporting section 110. The cuvette 200accommodating the specimen which is made to about 37° C. in the warmingsection 100 is then gripped by the transport catcher part 111 of thecuvette transporting section 110. With the cuvette 200 gripped by thetransport catcher part 111, the reagent dispensing arm 120 is driven,and the reagent in the reagent container 300 placed on the reagent table(first reagent table 11 or second reagent table 12) is added to thespecimen in the cuvette 200. In this state, the specimen and the reagentin the cuvette 200 are stirred by the vibrating function of thetransport catcher part 111. The measurement sample is thereby prepared.The cuvette 200 accommodating the measurement sample is then moved as itis to the measurement mounting part 131 of the second opticalinformation acquiring section 130 by the cuvette transporting section110.

The optical information (second optical information) is acquired fromthe measurement sample by performing the optical measurement (actualmeasurement) under the plurality of conditions on the measurement samplein the cuvette 200 by the detecting part 132 of the second opticalinformation acquiring section 130. Specifically, the light from thebranched optical fiber 92 of the lamp unit 90 is first irradiated on thecuvette 200 of the measurement mounting part 131. Lights having fivedifferent wavelengths (340 nm, 405 nm, 575 nm, 660 nm, and 800 nm) areirradiated from the branched optical fiber 132. The electric signal datacorresponding to the light of each wavelength irradiated from thebranched optical fiber 92 and transmitted through the cuvette 200 andthe measurement sample in the cuvette 200 are then acquired.

The electric signal data corresponding to the light having fivedifferent wavelengths are sequentially transmitted to the controlsection 4 a of the control device 4. The acquisition of the opticalinformation (second optical information) on the measurement sample bythe second optical information acquiring section 130 is therebycompleted.

If the absorbance at the main wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical information acquiringsection 80 is greater than the threshold value, determination is made onwhether or not the absorbance at the sub-wavelength calculated from thefirst optical information measured in the first optical informationacquiring section 80 is lower than or equal to a threshold value.Specifically, in the case where the examining items of the specimen areexamining items of the coagulation time method such as “PT”, “APTT”,“Fbg” and the like, determination is made on whether or not theabsorbance calculated from the first optical information measured byirradiating the light having the wavelength 800 nm, which is thesub-wavelength for the relevant items, is lower than or equal to athreshold value (e.g., 2.0).

If the absorbance at the sub-wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical information acquiringsection 80 is lower than or equal to the threshold value, the opticalinformation (second optical information) on the measurement sample isacquired by the second optical information acquiring section 130.

If the absorbance at the sub-wavelength calculated from the firstoptical information measured in the first optical information acquiringsection 80 is greater than the threshold value, the analysis of highreliability is judged as difficult to conduct since the influence of theinterfering substances (milky fluid, hemoglobin, bilirubin) in thespecimen is large, and the actual measurement is canceled. The reagentcannot be added to the non-analyzable specimen significantly influencedby the interfering substances and the measurement sample cannot beprepared, and thus the reagent is suppressed from becoming a waste. Asituation where measurement of high reliability is difficult to conduct(when canceling the actual measurement) includes a case where the lighttransmitting through the specimen is shielded due to the presence of agreat amount of interfering substances in the specimen detected in thefirst optical information acquiring section 80, and the transmittedlight that has transmitted through the specimen cannot be substantiallydetected.

After the acquisition (actual measurement) of the second opticalinformation by the second optical information acquiring section 130described above, the second optical information of the measurementsample measured at the main wavelength out of the plurality of secondoptical information measured in the second optical information acquiringsection 130 is transmitted to the control section 4 a of the controldevice 4, and is analyzed by the application program 404 a installed inthe hard disc 401 d of the control section 4 a. For instance, when theexamining item of the specimen is “PT”, the second optical informationmeasured by irradiating the light having a wavelength of 660 nm, whichis the main wavelength of “PT”, is transmitted to the control section 4a of the control device 4. Thereafter, the control section 4 a that hasreceived the second optical information acquired at the main wavelengthoutputs the result of analysis based on the second optical information.

Similarly, after the acquisition (actual measurement) of the secondoptical information by the second optical information acquiring section130, the second optical information of the measurement sample measuredat the sub-wavelength out of the plurality of second optical informationmeasured in the second optical information acquiring section 130 istransmitted to the control section 4 a of the control device 4, and isanalyzed by the application program 404 a installed in the hard disc 401d of the control section 4 a. For instance, when the examining item ofthe specimen is “PT”, the second optical information measured byirradiating the light having a wavelength of 800 nm, which is thesub-wavelength of “PT”, is transmitted to the control section 4 a of thecontrol device 4. Thereafter, the control section 4 a that has receivedthe second optical information acquired at the sub-wavelength outputsthe result of analysis based on the second optical information.

After the analysis by the control section 4 a of the control device 4 isfinished, the obtained result of analysis is displayed on the displaydevice 4 b of the control device 4. The analyzing operation of thespecimen of the sample analyzer 1 is thereby terminated.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart describing the measurement process flow of thecontrol section 4 a of the control device 4 and the control section 501of the measurement mechanism unit 2 of the sample analyzer 1 accordingto the present embodiment. The measurement flow process of the controlsection 4 a and the control section 501 of the sample analyzer 1according to the present embodiment will now be described with referenceto FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and 27.

First, the power (not shown) of the measurement mechanism unit 2 isturned ON, so that initialization of the control section 501(initialization of the program) is executed and the operation check ofeach section of the measurement mechanism unit 2 is performed in stepS1. The power (not shown) of the control device 4 is then turned ON, sothat initialization of the control section 4 a (initialization of theprogram) is executed in step S11. After initialization of the controlsection 501 is completed, the control section 501 requests aninitialization completed signal indicating the completion ofinitialization of the control section 4 a, and after receiving suchinitialization completed signal, controls the barcode reader 350 so thatthe barcodes of all the reagents set in the reagent storing section 6and the barcodes of the reagent rack are read. The read barcodeinformation is transmitted from the control section 501 to the controlsection 4 a, and stored in the hard disc 401 d of the control section 4a.

In step S12, a menu screen (not shown) is displayed on the displaydevice 4 b, where the user pushes the start button displayed on the menuscreen to transmit a measurement start signal from the control section 4a to the control section 501 in step S13. If the start button is notpushed in step S12, the process proceeds to step S19.

In step S2, judgment is made on whether or not the measurement startsignal is received by the control section 501, where the processproceeds to step S3 if judged that the measurement start signal isreceived, and the process proceeds to step S6 if judged that themeasurement start signal is not received.

In step S3, the process of dispensing the reagent to the specimendispensed in the cuvette 200 is performed, and detection of the fluidlevel is performed when suctioning the reagent to acquire the fluidlevel detection information, and such fluid level detection informationis transmitted from the control section 501 to the control section 4 a.In step S4, measurement of the specimen dispensed with the reagent isperformed in the first optical information acquiring section 80 and thesecond optical information acquiring section 130, and in step S5, themeasurement result is transmitted from the control section 501 to thecontrol section 4 a.

In step S14, judgment is made on whether or not the fluid leveldetection information is received by the control section 4 a, where theprocess proceeds to step S15 if the fluid level detection information isreceived, and the process proceeds to step S19 if the fluid leveldetection information is not received. In step S15, the reagentremaining amount calculating process is performed by the control section4 a. The reagent remaining amount calculating process will behereinafter described, but is a process of calculating the remainingamount of reagent based on the fluid level detection information andstoring the remaining amount of reagent in the hard disc 401 d.

In step S16, judgment is made on whether or not the measurement resultis received by the control section 4 a, where the process proceeds tostep S17 if the measurement result is received, and the process proceedsto step S19 if the measurement result is not received. In step S17, themeasurement result is analyzed by the control section 4 a, and in stepS18, the result of analysis is stored in the hard disc 401 d.

In step S19, judgment is made on whether or not instruction to displaythe reagent managing screen 410 is made by the control section 4 a(whether or not the reagent button (not shown) for displaying thereagent managing screen 410 of the menu screen is pushed), where theprocess proceeds to step S20 if such display instruction of the reagentmanaging screen 410 is made, and the process proceeds to step S27 if thedisplay instruction of the reagent managing screen 410 is not made. Instep S20, the reagent managing screen 410 is displayed by the controlsection 4 a. When the reagent managing screen 410 is displayed,information necessary for the first reagent mark 421, the second reagentmark 422, and the reagent detailed information displaying region 430 arereflected based on the read barcode information (step S1) and thecalculated reagent remaining amount (step S15) by the control section 4a (see FIG. 7). The remaining amount of the reagent is displayed on theremaining amount indicator 421 c of the first reagent mark 421 and theremaining amount indicator 422 c of the second reagent mark 422displayed on the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of thereagent managing screen 410. There are three types of calculated reagentremaining amount to be hereinafter described, the first reagentremaining amount, the second reagent remaining amount, and the thirdreagent remaining amount. The remaining amount indicator is displayed inred for the first reagent remaining amount, the remaining amountindicator is displayed in yellow for the second reagent remainingamount, and the remaining amount indicator is not displayed for thethird reagent remaining amount.

In step S21, judgment is made on whether or not the reagent to bereplaced is specified by the control section 4 a in the reagent managingscreen 410 of the display device 4 b having a touch panel mechanism. Thedetails on specifying the reagent will be described below. The userfirst references the reagent arrangement displaying region 420 of thereagent managing screen 410 shown in FIG. 7 to check the arrangement ofthe reagents. The user also specifies an arbitrary reagent by directlytouching by hand the first reagent mark 421 or the second reagent mark422 where the reagent is displayed from the plurality of first reagentmarks 421 or the second reagent marks 422, and checks the detailedinformation of the specified reagent displayed on the reagent detailedinformation displaying region 430. The background color (e.g., blue(with hatching (diagonal lines) in FIG. 7)) of the reagent namedisplaying part of the specified reagent mark “SHP” is displayed so asto be different from the background color (e.g., white (without hatching(diagonal lines) in FIG. 7)) of the reagent name displaying part of thereagent mark other than the reagent mark “SHP”. After the userdetermines the reagent to be replaced, the user specifies the firstreagent mark 421 or the second reagent mark 422 where the reagent to bereplaced is displayed. If judged that the reagent is specified by thecontrol section 4 a in step S21, the process proceeds to step S22, andif judged that the reagent is not specified, the process proceeds tostep S27.

In step S22, the reagent detailed information displaying process inwhich the reagent detailed information of the specified reagent isdisplayed on the reagent detailed information display region 430 isperformed, and in step S23, judgment is made on whether or notinstruction for reagent replacement is made (whether or notreplacement/addition button 440 a is pushed) by the control section 4 a.In FIG. 7, the reagent “SHP” of the reagent position “A11-6” isspecified, and the detailed information of the reagent “SHP” isdisplayed on the reagent detailed information displaying region 430. Ifjudged that instruction for reagent replacement is made in step S23, thereagent replacing process is performed by the control section 4 a andthe reagent replacement signal is transmitted from the control section 4a to the control section 501 in step S24. If judged that instruction forreagent replacement is not made in step S23, the process proceeds tostep S25.

In step S25, judgment is made on whether or not editing instruction ofthe reagent information is made by the control section 4 a, where theprocess proceeds to step S26 if the editing instruction of the reagentinformation is made, and the process proceeds to step S27 if the editinginstruction for the reagent information is not made. In step S26, theediting process of the reagent information is carried out by the controlsection 4 a.

In step S27, judgment is made on whether or not instruction forshut-down is made (whether or not shut-down button (not shown) is pushedfrom the menu screen) by the control section 4 a, where the processproceeds to step S28 if judged that the instruction for shut-down ismade, and the process returns to step S12 if judged that the instructionfor shut-down is not made. In step S28, the shut-down signal istransmitted from the control section 4 a to the control section 501, theshut-down of the control device 4 is carried out, and the process isterminated.

In step S6, judgment is made on whether or not the reagent replacementsignal is received by the control section 501, where the processproceeds to step S7 if judged that the reagent replacement signal isreceived, and the process proceeds to step S8 if judged that the reagentreplacement signal is not received. In step S7, the reagent replacingprocess is carried out by the control section 501.

In step S8, judgment is made on whether or not the shut-down signal isreceived, where the process proceeds to step S9 if judged that theshut-down signal is received, and the process returns to step S2 ifjudged that the shut-down signal is not received. In step S9, theshut-down of the measurement mechanism unit 2 is executed, and theprocess is terminated.

In the measurement process flow of the control section 501, step S3,step S4, and step S7 are parallel processed. Furthermore, in themeasurement process flow of the control section 4 a, step S15, step S17,step S20, step S22 and step S26, and step S24 are parallel processed.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart for describing the details of the reagentreplacing process of the control section 4 a executed in step S24 of theflowchart shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 20 is a flowchart for describing thedetails of the reagent replacing process of the control section 501executed in step S7 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. The reagentreplacing process flows of the control section 4 a and the controlsection 501 of the reagent analyzer 1 according to the presentembodiment will now be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 7 to 10, 19,and 20.

First, in step S31 shown in FIG. 19, the rack mark corresponding to thereagent container rack accommodating the specified reagent (“B11-2” ofFIG. 8) is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g., yellow (illustratedin left diagonal hatching in FIG. 8)). With such display, the user canrecognize that the reagent container rack accommodating the specifiedreagent is moving to the retrieving position. In the reagent replacingsection 7, the LED indicator 51 or the LED indicator 52 emits a redlight while the reagent container rack accommodating the specifiedreagent is moving to the retrieving position. An example of replacingthe reagent “X1” of “B11-2” will be described herein.

In step S41 shown in FIG. 20, judgment is made on whether or not any ofthe specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent described above usesthe reagent of the reagent table (hereinafter referred to as reagentreplacement target table) containing the rack holding the specifiedreagent by the control section 501, and if there is a specimen waitingto be dispensed with reagent that uses the reagent of the reagentreplacement target table when receiving the reagent replacement signal,the dispensing of the reagent to the specimen is executed in step S42.All dispensing of the reagent from the reagent replacement target tableto the specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent that uses thereagent of the reagent replacement target table is performed byrepeating step S41 and step S42. When there is a specimen that uses thereagent of the reagent replacement target table in the specimen waitingto be dispensed with reagent when instruction for reagent replacement ismade, the reagent is dispensed to the relevant specimen before theexecution of the reagent replacement. When the specimen is dispensed tothe cuvette 200 and the measurement is started, the reagent must bedispensed to the relevant specimen after a predetermined time haselapsed, where the specimen cannot be used for the measurement unlesssuch dispensing is properly performed, and thus must be discarded.Therefore, a predetermined process is performed on the specimen(specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent) which measurement hasstarted, and the measurement must be completed without beinginterrupted. If there is no specimen that uses the reagent of thereagent table of reagent replacement target in the specimen waiting tobe dispensed with reagent when instruction for reagent replacement ismade, the control section 501 executes the processes after step S43 andperforms the reagent replacement operation. That is, in step S41, whenthere is no specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent, or when thespecimen uses the reagent of the reagent table none of which is reagentreplacement target (even when there are any specimen waiting to bedispensed with reagent), the reagent replacement target table does notneed to be accessed, and thus the reagent replacement operation isexecuted. Therefore, in both cases when there is specimen that uses thereagent of the reagent table of reagent replacement target in thespecimen (specimen waiting to be dispensed with reagent) waiting to bedispensed with reagent when instruction for reagent replacement is made,and where there is no such specimen, the specimen waiting to bedispensed with reagent does not need to be discarded, and thus thespecimen will not becomes a waste, and reagent replacement will berapidly performed.

In step S41, if judged that all the specimens waiting to be dispensedwith reagent do not use the reagent of the reagent table of reagentreplacement target, the first driving section 502 or the second drivingsection 503 is controlled by the control section 501, and the reagenttable of reagent replacement target rotates, so that the first reagentcontainer rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 holding thespecified reagent moves to the retrieving position (below first lid 30or second lid 40) in step S43. In such process, the control section 501issues a command to instruct the movement of the reagent replacementtarget table to the drive circuit. When the drive circuit receives suchcommand, a reagent replacement flag of a status register incorporated inthe drive circuit is set. In other words, the reagent replacement statusdescribed above is set to ON for the reagent replacement target tablecontaining the reagent instructed to be replaced by the user. Thereagent replacement status has either the reagent replacement status ofthe first reagent table 11 and the reagent replacement status of thesecond reagent table 12 set to ON. When the reagent container rackholding the specified reagent is moved to the retrieving position, amovement end signal indicating that the reagent container rack holdingthe specified reagent has moved to the retrieving position istransmitted to the control section 4 a by the control section 501 instep S44. The amount of rotation movement of each reagent table 11, 12from the origin position of the first reagent table 11 and the secondreagent table 12 can be determined by counting the number of pulses ofthe drive pulse signal provided to the first driving section 502 or thesecond driving section 503 by the control section 501. The controlsection 501 thus recognizes that the first reagent table 11 or thesecond reagent table 12 has moved to the retrieving position by themovement amount from the origin position, and generates the movement endsignal based on such recognition.

When the movement end signal is transmitted from the control section 501to the control section 4 a, judgment is made on whether or not themovement end signal is received by the control section 4 a in step S32shown in FIG. 19. If judged that the movement end signal is received instep S32, notification that the reagent container rack holding thespecified reagent has moved to the retrieving position is made to theuser in step S33. Specifically, the rack mark displayed in thepredetermined color (e.g., yellow (illustrated in left diagonal hatchingin FIG. 8)) in step S31 described above is displayed in a predeterminedcolor (e.g., green (illustrated in right diagonal hatching in FIG. 9))in the reagent managing screen 410. In the reagent replacing section 7,when the reagent container rack holding the specified reagent is movedto the retrieving position, the LED indicator 51 or the LED indicator 52that emitted a red light during the movement of the reagent containerrack now emits a blue light. The notification that the reagent containerrack holding the specified reagent has moved to the retrieving positionis thereby made to the user.

The lock mechanism of the lid of the table of reagent replacement targetis unlocked by the user for the reagent replacement task. An unlocksignal is transmitted from the lock detecting part of the lid to thecontrol section 501, and judgment is made on whether or not the lock ofthe lid is unlocked by the control section 501 in step S45. Regardingthe reagent replacement task by the user, after the first lid 30 or thesecond lid 40 in an unlocked state is detached by the user, the grippingpart (gripping part 313 or 327) of the reagent container rack at theretrieving position (below first lid 30 or second lid 40) is gripped bythe user and retrieved. The reagent container 300 accommodating thespecified reagent is replaced with the reagent container 300accommodating the new reagent by the user. Thereafter, the reagentcontainer rack arranged with the replaced reagent is then returned tothe retrieving position, and the user attaches and locks the first lid30 or the second lid 40. A lock signal is transmitted from the lockdetecting part of the lid to the control section 501, and judgment ismade on whether or not the lid is locked by the control section 501 instep S46.

If judged that the first lid 30 or the second lid 40 is locked by thecontrol section 501 in step S46, the barcode reading operation isperformed in step S47. In the barcode reading operation, the controlsection 501 controls the first reagent table 11 or the second reagenttable 12 and the barcode reader 350 so as to perform the reading of thebarcode by the barcode reader 350 with respect to the first reagentcontainer rack 310 or the second reagent container rack 320 arrangedwith the replaced reagent. Specifically, in reading the barcodes 300 a,321 b to 326 b, or 321 c to 326 c of the second reagent container rack320 and the reagent container 300 held in the second reagent containerrack 320, the barcode 321 b for identifying the positional information(holder number) is first read while rotating the second reagent table 12in the direction of the arrow G (counterclockwise direction) in FIG. 5.Subsequently, the barcode 300 a for identifying the detailed identifyinginformation or the barcode 321 c for identifying the no-containerinformation are read, and thereafter, the barcode 322 b representing thepositional information is read. Thus, the positional information (holdernumber) (barcodes 321 b to 326 b) and the detailed identifyinginformation (barcode 300 a) or the no-container information (barcodes321 c to 326 c) corresponding to the positional information arealternately read. The detailed identifying information includescontainer type information, reagent ID, and lot number.

In reading the barcodes 300 a, 311 b to 312 b, or 311 c to 312 c of thefirst reagent container rack 310 and the reagent container 300 held inthe first reagent container rack 310, the second reagent table 12 isfirst rotatably moved until reaching the position at where the gap 12 a(see FIG. 5) of the second reagent table 12 faces the barcode reader350. Thereafter, similar to when reading the barcode 300 a of the secondreagent container rack 320 described above and the reagent container 300held in the second reagent container rack 320, the barcode reader 350alternately reads the positional information (holder number) (barcodes311 b to 312 b) and the detailed identifying information (barcode 300 a)or the no-container information (barcodes 311 c to 312 c) correspondingto the positional information through the gap 12 a (see FIG. 5) whilethe first reagent table 11 is being rotated in the direction of thearrow G (counterclockwise direction) of FIG. 5. The read positionalinformation and the detailed identifying information or the no-containerinformation corresponding to the positional information (holder number)are transmitted to the control section 501 and stored in the RAM 501 c.

In step S48, the barcode read information stored in the RAM 501 c istransmitted to the control section 4 a by the control section 501.

When the barcode read information is transmitted from the controlsection 501 to the control section 4 a, judgment is made on whether ornot the barcode read information is received by the control section 4 ain step S34 shown in FIG. 19. If judged that the barcode readinformation is received in step S34, the barcode read information isstored in the hard disc 401 d in step S35, and the process proceeds tostep S36. In step S36, the detailed information such as reagent name,type of container, lot number, and expiration date for all the reagentsin the reagent rack holding the replaced reagent are acquired withreference to the reagent master, the reagent lot master, and thecontainer master described above based on the barcode read information((positional information) holder number, reagent ID, and container typeinformation) stored in the hard disc 401 d by the control section 4 a.In step S36, the detailed information such as positional information,acquired reagent name, type of container, lot number, and expirationdate are reflected on the first reagent mark 421, second reagent mark422 or reagent non-arranged mark 427 and the reagent detailed displayingregion 430 of the reagent managing screen 410 by the control part 4 a(see FIG. 10). Since the remaining amount of the replaced reagent isunknown, the remaining amount indicator is displayed in a predeterminedcolor (gray).

FIG. 21 is a flowchart for describing the details of the dispensingprocess of the control section 501 executed in step S3 of the flowchartshown in FIG. 27. The dispensing process flow the control section 501 ofthe sample analyzer 1 according to the present embodiment will now bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 3, 5, and 21.

First, in step S51 shown in FIG. 21, the barcode attached to the testtube 250 accommodating the specimen conveyed by the conveyance mechanismunit 3 is read by controlling the barcode reader 3 c by the controlsection 501. In step S52, the order is acquired based on the readbarcode information by the control section 501, and the process proceedsto step S53. In step S53, judgment is made on whether or not the reagentreplacement status of the first reagent table 11 or the second reagenttable 12 is set to ON by the control section 501. This process isperformed by the control section 501 checking the status registerincorporated in the drive circuit of the reagent replacement targettable. If judged that one of the reagent replacement statuses of thefirst reagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 is set to ON instep S53, the process proceeds to step S54. If judged that neitherreagent replacement status is set to ON in step S53, the processproceeds to step S56. The order will be described below. The order isinformation containing analyzing items associated with the informationfor specifying the specimen. The order is registered in a host computer(not shown) connected to the control device 4 or stored in the controldevice 4 by being manually input by the user. After acquiring thebarcode information of the specimen, the control device 4 searches forthe corresponding order from the order stored inside or acquires theorder by inquiring the host computer with the specimen ID as the key.The order acquired by the control device 4 is transmitted from thecontrol section 4 a of the control device 4 to the control section 501of the measurement mechanism unit 2, so that the control section 501acquires the order.

In step S56, the specimen dispensing driving section 70 a is controlledaccording to the order by the control section 501, the specimenaccommodated in the test tube 250 conveyed by the conveyance mechanismunit 3 is suctioned by the specimen dispensing arm 70, and the suctionedspecimen is dispensed into the cuvette 200 held at the cuvette holdingpart 62 of the cuvette conveying table 61. In step S57, the reagentdispensing driving section 70 a is controlled by the control section501, and suction of the reagent is carried out through the holes 22 a,22 b, or 22 c (see FIG. 3) of the outer wall part 20 of the reagentstoring section 6 by the reagent dispensing arm 120, and the suctionedreagent is dispensed into the cuvette 200 completed with warming. Asshown in FIG. 23, in step S57, the pipette part 121 of the reagentdispensing arm 120 moves below the initial position (height H1) forsuctioning the reagent. The pipette part 121 is driven by the steppingmotor, and moves by a movement distance D every time one pulse is inputto the stepping motor. The fluid level of the reagent is detected by thesensor arranged at the distal end of the pipette part 121 thereon. Thenumber of pulse P, which is one of the fluid level detection informationof when the sensor detects the fluid level of the reagent, is acquired.

If judged that one of the reagent replacement status of the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table 12 is set to ON by thecontrol section 501 in step S53, judgment is made on whether or not thereagent analyzing item specified by the acquired order uses the reagentof the reagent replacement target table in step S54. If judged that thereagent analyzing item specified by the acquired order does not use thereagent of the reagent replacement target table in step S54, the processproceeds to steps S56 and S57, and the processes described above areperformed. Furthermore, if judged that the analyzing item specified bythe acquired order uses the reagent of the reagent replacement targettable, the acquired order is held in step S55. The steps S51 to S55 arerepeated until judged that the reagent analyzing item specified by theacquired order does not use the reagent of the reagent replacementtarget table. Regarding the held order, if judged that the reagentanalyzing item specified by the acquired order does not use the reagentof the reagent replacement target table, the processes of step S56 andS57 are executed in order.

The reagent is replaced as described above in the present embodiment.

In the above description, a case of replacing the reagent has beendescribed, but when adding the reagent, specification of the reagentnon-arranged mark 427 corresponding to the holding part 311, 312 or 321to 326 arranged with the reagent to be added is carried out in step S21shown in FIG. 27. The details of specifying the reagent displayingregion when adding the reagent will be described below. That is, theuser checks the arrangement of the reagent by the reagent arrangementdisplaying region 420 of the reagent managing screen 410 shown in FIG.7. The user specifies by touching directly by hand the reagentnon-arranged mark 427 corresponding to the holding part of the reagentcontainer rack that holds the reagent to be added from the reagentnon-arranged mark 427 (e.g., “A14-1”, “B14-2”, etc., of FIG. 7). In stepS21, when the user pushes the replacement/addition button 440 a with thereagent non-arranged mark 427 specified, the instruction to add thereagent to be added is completed. Thereafter, the reagent is addedthrough operations similar to steps S31 to S37 shown in FIG. 19, stepsS41 to S48 shown in FIG. 20, and steps S51 to S57 shown in FIG. 21.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart for describing the details of the reagentremaining amount calculating process of the control section 4 a executedin step S15 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. FIG. 23 is a view fordescribing the method of calculating the remaining amount of thereagent. FIG. 24 is a view for describing the correspondencerelationship between the remaining amount of the reagent and the colorof the remaining amount indicator. The process of calculating theremaining amount in the remaining amount indicator of the reagent markwill now be described with reference to FIGS. 10 and 22 to 24.

First, in step S61 shown in FIG. 22, the height of the fluid level iscalculated based on the received fluid level detection information bythe control section 4 a. The fluid level detection information containsnumber of pulses P and distance D of when the fluid level describedabove is detected. The reagent container is specified based on thecontainer ID with reference to the container master, and the inner areaS in the horizontal direction of the specified reagent container isacquired by the control section 4 a. Furthermore, the reagent name isacquired based on the reagent ID with reference to the reagent master.The height H of the fluid level is obtained by the following equation(1) by the control section 4 a.H (Height of fluid level)=H1 (height of initial position)−P (number ofpulses)×D (movement distance of one pulse)  (1)

In step S62, the remaining amount T of the reagent is calculated by thefollowing equation (2) by the control section 4 a from the acquiredinner area S of the reagent container and the acquired height H of thefluid level of the reagent.T (remaining amount)=H (height of fluid level)×S (inner area of reagentcontainer)  (2)

In step S63, judgment is made on whether or not the remaining amount Tof the reagent is less than or equal to the measurement cancelingremaining amount T1. As shown in FIG. 24, when the remaining amount T ofthe reagent is less than or equal to the measurement canceling remainingamount T1, the first reagent remaining amount indicating that there isnot remaining amount of the reagent is stored in the hard disc 401 d instep S64. If the remaining amount T of the reagent is greater than themeasurement canceling remaining amount T1, determination is made onwhether or not the remaining amount T of the reagent is less than orequal to a warning remaining amount T2 in step S65.

As shown in FIG. 24, if the remaining amount T of the reagent is lessthan or equal to the warning remaining amount T2, the second reagentremaining amount indicating that the remaining amount of the reagent isfew is stored in the hard disc 401 d in step S66. If the remainingamount T of the reagent is greater than the warning remaining amount T2,the third reagent remaining amount indicating that the remaining amountof the reagent is sufficient is stored in the hard disc 401 d in stepS67.

The steps S61 to S67 are repeated every time measurement is performed.As described above, the remaining amount indicator is displayed in redfor the first reagent remaining amount, the remaining amount indicatoris displayed in yellow for the second reagent remaining amount, and theremaining amount indicator is not displayed for the third reagentremaining amount. Therefore, the user can easily recognize the remainingamount of the reagent by color displaying the reagent remaining amountin the remaining amount indicator based on the calculated reagentremaining amount.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart for describing the details of the reagentdetailed information displaying process of the control section 4 aexecuted in step S22 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. The process flowof displaying the detailed information of the reagent on the reagentdetailed information displaying region will now be described withreference to FIG. 25.

First, in step S71, the reagent setting information, reagent lot settinginformation, and container setting information respectively registeredin the reagent master, the reagent lot master, and the container masterare read from the hard disc 401 d by the control section 4 a.

In step S72, “holder number”, “reagent name”, “necessity of stirring”,“reagent lot number”, “expiration date”, and “type of container” arespecified based on the barcode read information stored in the hard disc401 d by the control section 4 a. Specifically, the “holder number” isspecified from the positional information of the barcode of the reagentcontainer rack. The reagent ID and the reagent setting information arechecked, and “reagent name” and “necessity of stirring” are specified.The reagent lot number and the reagent lot setting information arechecked, and “reagent lot number” and “expiration date” are specified.The container ID and the container setting information are checked, and“type of container” is specified. Regarding the reagents used in themeasurement, the remaining amount of the reagent is calculated in theabove manner, and thus “usable amount” and “remaining number of tests”are specified from the calculated remaining amount of the reagent. Ifthe reagent is not used even once in the measurement after beingreplaced, “usable amount” and “remaining number of tests” are notcalculated. Furthermore, “set date” and “set time” are specified by thedate and time at when reading of the barcode was performed. The barcoderead information is acquired in replacement or addition of the reagent,and stored in the hard disc 401 d.

In step S73, the detailed information specified in the above-describedstep S72 is displayed on the reagent detailed information displayingregion. If the reagent is not used even once in the measurement afterbeing replaced, “usable amount” and “remaining number of tests” are notdisplayed.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart for describing the details of the reagentinformation editing process of the control section 4 a executed in stepS26 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 27. The process flow of editing thedetailed information displayed on the reagent detailed informationdisplaying region will now be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and26.

First, in step S81, judgment is made on whether or not the reagentinformation edit button 440 b is pushed. If the reagent information editbutton 440 b is not pushed, the relevant judgment is repeated. If thereagent edit button 440 b is pushed, the reagent information editdialogue 450 is displayed on the display device 4 b in step S82, asshown in FIG. 11. The user edits the detailed information in the reagentinformation edit dialogue 450.

In step S83, judgment is made on whether or not the cancel button 453 ispushed by the control section 4 a. If the cancel button 453 is pushed,the reagent information edit dialogue 450 is closed and the originaldetailed information is displayed on the reagent detailed informationdisplaying region 430 in step S84. If the cancel button 453 is notpushed, judgment is made on whether or not the update button 452 ispushed in step S85. If the update button 452 is not pushed, the relevantjudgment is repeated. If the update button 452 is pushed, the reagentinformation edit dialogue 450 is closed and the edited detailedinformation is reflected on the reagent information displaying region430 in step S86.

In the present embodiment, only the detailed information of the reagentcorresponding to the specified reagent mark can be displayed on thereagent detailed information displaying region 430 by specifying thereagent mark displayed on the reagent arrangement displaying region 420,as described above. Thus the reagent detailed information displayingregion 430 does not need to be arranged for the number of reagents, andthus percentage of the reagent detailed information displaying region430 occupying the reagent managing screen 410 is set to a constant size.Therefore, when arranging a great number of reagents, the detailedinformation of the reagent arranged in the reagent storing section 6 canbe easily displayed.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, the user is able to check thearrangement of the reagent accommodated in a plurality of reagentcontainer racks with the display device 4 b by displaying the rack markand each reagent mark in correspondence to the arrangement state of eachreagent accommodated in the plurality of reagent container racks, asdescribed above. The user then can easily manage the reagents.

Moreover, in the present embodiment, the user is able to easilydistinguish the current specified reagent from the reagents other thanthe specified reagent by displaying the background with respect to thereagent name of the reagent name displaying part of the specifiedreagent mark in blue, and displaying the background with respect to thereagent name of the reagent name displaying part of the non-specifiedreagent mark in white in the reagent arrangement displaying region 420,as described above.

In the present embodiment, the user recognizes by warning display on thedisplay device 4 b that the remaining amount T of the reagent is lessthan or equal to the measurement canceling remaining amount T1 or thewarning remaining amount T2 by displaying a warning that the remainingamount T of the reagent is less than or equal to the measurementcanceling remaining amount T1 or the warning remaining amount T2 on thereagent mark corresponding to the reagent when the remaining amount Tbecomes less than or equal to the measurement canceling remaining amountT1 or the warning remaining amount T12, as described above.

In the present embodiment, the user can recognize the difference in theremaining amount of the reagents by difference in color by displayingthe remaining indicator in a predetermined color (e.g., red) when theremaining amount T of the reagent becomes less than or equal to themeasurement canceling remaining amount T1, and displaying the remainingamount indicator in a predetermined color (e.g., yellow) when theremaining amount of the reagent becomes the warning remaining amount T2,as described above.

Moreover, the user is able to accurately know at which accommodatingposition of which reagent container rack the reagent is arranged bydisplaying the positional information (holder number) of the reagentread from the barcode on the reagent mark, as described above.

In the present embodiment, the lot number and the expiration date of thereagent corresponding to the specified reagent mark can be recognized onthe reagent detailed information displaying region 430 by specifying thereagent mark in the reagent arrangement displaying region 420, asdescribed above. The user thus can judge the replacement timing, etc.,of the reagent.

In the present embodiment, the remaining number of tests, the set date,and the set time of the reagent corresponding to the specified reagentmark can be checked on the reagent detailed information displayingregion by specifying the reagent mark in the reagent arrangementdisplaying region 420, as described above. The user then can judge thereplacement timing, etc., of the reagent.

In the present embodiment, the user can easily recognize the arrangementof the reagent by configuring the first reagent table 11 and the secondreagent table 12 such that each reagent can be arranged in an annularform, and displaying the reagent mark in an annular form incorrespondence to the annular arrangement of the reagent in the firstreagent table 11 and the second reagent table on the reagent arrangementdisplaying region 420, as described above.

In the present embodiment, after specifying the reagent in the reagentarrangement displaying region 420 of the reagent managing screen 410,the reagent can be replaced with the replacement/addition button 440 ain the reagent managing screen 410, as described above. The user thencan easily replace the reagent.

In the present embodiment, the detailed information of the reagentdisplayed on the reagent detailed information displaying region 430 ofthe reagent managing screen 410 can be edited with the reagentinformation edit button 440 b displayed on the operation meansdisplaying region 440 of the same reagent managing screen 410, asdescribed above. The convenience of the user thus enhances.

In the present embodiment, the user can easily edit the detailedinformation of the reagent with the reagent information edit dialogue450 displayed by pushing the reagent information edit button 440 b, asdescribed above.

In the present embodiment, the rack mark including the specified reagentmark is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g., green) in aretrievable state in which the user can retrieve the reagent arranged inthe first table 11 or the second reagent table 12 when replacing thereagent, as described above. The rack mark including the specifiedreagent mark is displayed in a predetermined color (e.g., yellow) in awaiting state from when the replacement/addition button 440 a is pusheduntil the retrievable state is obtained. The user can judge theretrievable state and the waiting state from the reagent managing screen410 of the display device 4 b, and thus can easily replace the reagent.

In the present embodiment, the reagent can be added to the portion notarranged with the reagent of the reagent arranging section by specifyingthe reagent non-arranged mark and pushing the replacement/additionbutton, as described above.

In the present embodiment, the mistaken arrangement mark B is displayedfor the corresponding reagent mark if the reagent that requires stirringis arranged at a position where stirring cannot be performed in thereagent managing screen 410, as described above. The expired mark C isdisplayed for the reagent mark corresponding to the expired reagent. Thestable time-out mark D is displayed for the reagent mark of the reagentthat has elapsed a predetermined time (e.g., eight hours) from the setdate and set time of the reagent. The user thus can check the reagentthat has a problem to be used for analysis from the reagent managingscreen 410. The managing of the reagent such as replacing the reagentthat has a problem to be used for analysis with a new reagent is thuseasily carried out.

The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative and should not beconstrued as being restrictive. The scope of the invention is defined bythe appended claims rather than by the description of the embodiments,and all changes that fall within meets and bounds of the claims, orequivalence of such meets and bounds are therefore intended to beembraced by the claims.

For instance, an example of displaying the positional information(holder number), reagent name, and remaining amount indicator on thereagent mark has been described in the above embodiments, but thepresent invention is not limited thereto, and only the reagent name maybe displayed.

An example of distinguishing the specified reagent mark from the otherreagent marks by changing the color of the specified reagent mark hasbeen described in the above embodiments, but the present invention isnot limited thereto, and the shape or size of the specified reagent markmay be changed.

An example of displaying a warning of the remaining amount of thereagent with the remaining amount indicator when the remaining amount ofthe reagent becomes small has been described in the above embodiments,but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the remainingamount indicator may be displayed even if the remaining amount of thereagent is suffice.

An example of displaying the color of the remaining amount indicator inyellow when the remaining amount T of the reagent is less than or equalto the warning remaining amount T2 and displaying in red when less thanor equal to the measurement canceling remaining amount T1 has beendescribed in the above embodiments, but the present invention is notlimited thereto, and may be displayed in colors other than yellow andred. In addition to changing the color of the remaining amount indicatorby the remaining amount of the reagent, the shape, pattern, and the likeof the remaining amount indicator may be changed.

An example of displaying the reagent name on the reagent name displayingpart of the reagent mark has been described in the above embodiments,but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the reagent namemay be displayed in the vicinity of the reagent mark.

An example of displaying as a mark an icon of a combination of characterand figure on the display device so as to be specifiable has beendescribed in the above embodiments, but the present invention is notlimited thereto, and a button may be displayed on the display device asthe mark. For instance, a button configured only from a rectangle with acharacter inside may be used.

An example of providing a touch panel function to the display device, sothat the user can directly touch button etc. displayed on the reagentmanaging screen for selection or operation has been described in theabove embodiments, but the present invention is not limited thereto, andselection or operation may be carried out by specifying button etc.displayed on the reagent managing screen with keyboard or mouse.

The foregoing detailed description and accompanying drawings have beenprovided by way of explanation and illustration, and are not intended tolimit the scope of the appended claims. Many variations in the presentlypreferred embodiments illustrated herein will be obvious to one ofordinary skill in the art, and remain within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sample analyzer comprising: a reagent arrangingsection for arranging a plurality of reagents in annular form androtatably; an analyzing section for analyzing a measurement sampleprepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arranged on the reagentarranging section; a touch panel; and a display control section thatconcurrently displays, on the touch panel, a reagent arrangementdisplaying region, a reagent detailed information displaying region, andan operation displaying region; wherein the reagent arrangementdisplaying region includes a plurality of reagent marks, each inscribedwith a reagent name of a reagent, wherein the reagent marks aredisplayed in annular form corresponding to an arrangement of thereagents, respectively, on the reagent arranging section and aredisplayed in a manner selectable with the touch panel; wherein thereagent detailed information displaying region includes detailedinformation related to the reagent corresponding to the reagent markselected with the touch panel on the touch panel, wherein the operationdisplaying region includes a replacement instructing button forreplacing the reagent corresponding to the reagent mark selected withthe touch panel on the touch panel.
 2. The sample analyzer according toclaim 1, wherein the display control section controls the touch panel todisplay the selected reagent mark in a manner distinguishable fromreagent marks other than the selected reagent mark on the reagentarrangement displaying region.
 3. The sample analyzer according to claim1, wherein the display control section controls the touch panel todisplay the reagent mark in a manner that remaining amount of thereagent is identifiable.
 4. The sample analyzer according to claim 1,wherein the detailed information comprises a reagent name, usage order,and remaining amount.
 5. The sample analyzer according to claim 1,wherein the display control section controls the touch panel to displaypositional information indicating an accommodating position of thereagent on the reagent arranging section, wherein the reagent mark isdisplayed so as to correspond to the positional information of thereagent on the reagent arranging section.
 6. The sample analyzeraccording to claim 1, wherein the display control section controls thetouch panel to display reagent lot information indicating lot number ofthe reagent corresponding to the selected reagent mark and reagentexpiration date information indicating expiration date of the reagentcorresponding to the selected reagent mark on the reagent detailedinformation displaying region.
 7. The sample analyzer according to claim1, wherein the display control section controls the display device todisplay reagent remaining test information indicating remaining numberof tests of the reagent corresponding to the selected reagent mark onthe reagent detailed information displaying region.
 8. The sampleanalyzer according to claim 1, wherein the operation displaying regionincludes a reagent information edit button for editing the detailedinformation of the reagent corresponding to the selected reagent mark isdisplayed in a manner selectable by the touch panel on the touch panel.9. The sample analyzer according to claim 8, wherein when the reagentmarks is selected by the touch panel and the reagent information editbutton is selected by the touch panel, the display control sectioncontrols the touch panel to display an editing screen for editing thedetailed information of the reagent corresponding to the selectedreagent mark.
 10. The sample analyzer according to claim 1, wherein thedisplay control section controls the touch panel to display a reagentnon-arranged mark in a manner distinguishable from the reagent mark onthe reagent arrangement displaying region, the non-arranged markcorresponds to a portion not arranged with the reagent of the reagentarranging section; and wherein when the non-arranged marks is selectedby the touch panel and the replacement instructing button is selected bytouch panel, the reagent arranging section performs a reagent addingoperation for adding a reagent to the portion of the reagent arrangingsection corresponding to the selected non-arranged mark.
 11. The sampleanalyzer according to claim 1, wherein the detailed informationcomprises necessity of stirring.
 12. A sample analyzer comprising: areagent arranging section for arranging a plurality of reagents inannular form and rotatably; an analyzing section for analyzing ameasurement sample prepared by mixing a sample and the reagent arrangedon the reagent arranging section; a touch panel; and a display controlsection for displaying a reagent managing screen that includes a firstregion for displaying a plurality of reagent marks, each inscribed withone of a plurality of reagent names, wherein each of the reagent namesdisplays a name of a particular reagent, wherein the plurality ofreagent marks are arranged in annular form to correspond witharrangement of the reagents, respectively, on the reagent arrangingsection, the reagent managing screen including a second region fordisplaying a replacement mark for replacing the reagent arranged on thereagent arranging section, further wherein each reagent mark andreplacement mark are displayed in a manner selectable by the touchpanel; and a controller configured to: receive a selection of one of thereagent marks from the touch panel; and perform, with the reagentarranging section, a replacement operation that replaces the reagentcorresponding to the selected reagent mark.
 13. The sample analyzeraccording to claim 12, wherein the reagent managing screen furtherincludes a third region for displaying detailed information of thereagent corresponding to the selected reagent mark.
 14. The sampleanalyzer according to claim 13, wherein an edit mark for editing thedetailed information of the reagent corresponding to the selectedreagent mark is displayed in a manner selectable by the touch panel onthe second region.
 15. The sample analyzer according to claim 14,wherein when the reagent marks is selected by the touch panel and theedit mark is selected by the touch panel, the display control sectioncontrols the touch panel to display an editing screen for editing thedetailed information of the reagent corresponding to the selectedreagent mark.
 16. The sample analyzer according to claim 12, wherein thedisplay control section controls the touch panel to display a reagentnon-arranged mark in a manner distinguishable from the reagent mark onthe first region, the non-arranged mark corresponds to a portion notarranged with the reagent of the reagent arranging section; and whereinwhen the non-arranged marks is selected by the touch panel and thereplacement mark is selected by the touch panel, the reagent arrangingsection performs a reagent adding operation for adding a reagent to theportion of the reagent arranging section corresponding to the selectednon-arranged mark.
 17. The sample analyzer according to claim 12,wherein the detailed information comprises necessity of stirring.
 18. Asample analyzer comprising: a reagent arranging section for arranging aplurality of reagents in annular form and rotatably; an analyzingsection for analyzing a measurement sample prepared by mixing a sampleand the reagent arranged on the reagent arranging section; a touchpanel; and a display control section that concurrently displays, on thetouch panel, a reagent arrangement displaying region, a reagent detailedinformation displaying region, and an operation displaying region;wherein the reagent arrangement displaying region includes a pluralityof reagent marks, each inscribed with a reagent name of a reagent,wherein the reagent marks are displayed in annular form corresponding toan arrangement of the reagents, respectively, on the reagent arrangingsection and are displayed in a manner selectable with the touch panel;wherein the reagent detailed information displaying region includesdetailed information related to the reagent corresponding to the reagentmark selected with the touch panel on the touch panel, wherein theoperation displaying region includes a reagent information edit buttonfor editing the detailed information of the reagent corresponding to theselected reagent mark is displayed in a manner selectable by the touchpanel on the touch panel.
 19. The sample analyzer according to claim 18,wherein when the reagent marks is selected by the touch panel and thereagent information edit button is selected by the touch panel, thedisplay control section controls the touch panel to display an editingscreen for editing the detailed information of the reagent correspondingto the selected reagent mark.
 20. The sample analyzer according to claim18, wherein the detailed information comprises necessity of stirring.